THE CORK HURLERS have suffered another defensive setback as they prepare for their All-Ireland senior hurling qualifier against Wexford on Saturday 4 July.
Shane O’Neill has been ruled out of the game after sustaining an ankle injury.
If Cork manage to overcome Liam Dunne’s side in the Round 1 clash, their management are hopeful that O’Neill will be available for the Round 2 tie on 11-12 July.
The news is a further selection headache for manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
Cork’s defensive options have already been stretched following injuries this season to defenders Christopher Joyce and Lorcán McLoughlin while Conor O’Sullivan and William Egan, who both started the 2013 All-Ireland final loss to Clare, are no longer part of the panel.
Brian Murphy’s recent return to the squad following the league final loss to Waterford is a boost and he started in the defeat to the Deise in the recent Munster semi-final.
From the squad that lost that game, the potential Cork replacements for O’Neill would seem to be Sarsfield’s William Kearney, a twin brother of midfielder Daniel, or the Midleton duo of Aidan Ryan and Killian Burke.
Kearney and Burke can both slot in to a corner-back position, where O’Neill played against Waterford.
Ryan was full-back for Cork in the league final in May in Semple Stadium.
