THE CORK HURLERS have suffered a major blow with the confirmation that defender Christopher Joyce has torn the cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Joyce was forced off in the 6th minute of Saturday night’s game in Croke Park against Dublin and scans have confirmed the extent of the injury.
The 23 year-old landed awkwardly after challenging for the ball in front of Hill 16 in Croke Park.
It’s a setback for a Cork team that already have to plan without last year’s Munster final winning captain Patrick Cronin for the rest of the league.
Cronin suffered a hand injury in training last week and underwent an operation last Friday. Damien Cahalane is also sidelined at present for Cork.
Joyce has emerged as a regular fixture in Cork’s defence in recent years. In 2012, he made his senior championship debut for Cork in a qualifier against Offaly before playing at right half-back on the Rebels side that lost the 2013 All-Ireland final to Clare after a replay.
Last July, Joyce lined out at right corner-back on the Cork side that saw off Limerick to lift the Munster senior hurling title in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
In recent games the Na Piarsaigh club man had been impressing with his form at full-back in the opening Division 1A league games of the 2015 season.
