Two-time All-Ireland winner Michael Duignan believes that Cork will need to reinforce their full-back line with an extra body to cope with the threat of Aaron Gillane and Shane O'Brien in this Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final.
Limerick and Cork meet in the league final for the first time since 1980, with the Rebels seeking back-to-back league titles, while John Kiely's side are chasing the fourth league triumph of their manager's trophy-laden reign.
The Munster champions' presence in the league decider was assured ever since they overcame Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in Round 4. Their subsequent loss to Limerick in the league proper at the Gaelic Grounds is caveated by Ben O'Connor's experimental team selection.
Limerick's defeat away to Waterford in their opener suggested they might be set for an off-year in the league. However, they've amassed a flawless record since then, winning their next five games, including a 15-point demolition of All-Ireland champions Tipperary.
The campaign has witnessed some gradual turnover in the Limerick starting team, with Aidan O'Connor emerging as a key marksman in attack, while O'Brien and Cathal O'Neill are well-established within the forward line.
"John Kiely was in Tullamore for the league match [Offaly v Limerick] and we had an event for our sponsors afterwards and he very kindly came down and spoke to us," Duignan said on the RTÉ GAA podcast.
"But he was talking about Cathal O'Neill, Adam English, Aidan O'Connor, Colin Coughlin - they're all on the panel for the last five or six years.
"O'Connor, in particular, hasn't really got a chance since this year. But Kiely said he wasn't ready.
"It's amazingly how long it takes. Some players can walk straight in. Kyle Hayes walked straight in [to the team] at 19. But most lads, it does take them a while to find their feet."
With Gillane and O'Brien rampant in the inside forwards for most of the league, Duignan believes that Cork will need to provide cover for their full-back line.
It's an area where Cork have rejigged things, with last year's full-back Eoin Downey operating alongside his brother Rob in the half-back line this season, with Dáire O'Leary slotting in at the No. 3 spot.
"It's a big question. They've tried Damien Cahalane in there [full-back] before. They've taken the Downeys out to the half-back line. I don't see Eoin going back in there.
"Dáire O'Leary was in there during the league. He was going very well but got it hard against Limerick the last day. There's a big question mark there.
"You will have Niall O'Leary and Sean O'Donoghue [at corner-back]. Gillane and O'Donoghue have had fierce battles. Gillane has generally got the upper hand. That's not surprising. Sean O'Donoghue is a great corner-back but Gillane is one of the greatest corner-forwards that I've seen play the game.
"O'Brien and Gillane are very, very dangerous inside. I think Cork will have to leave a bit of cover back there. And try to protect that full-back line because the two of them are deadly."
Duignan also instanced Tommy O'Connell as a player whose stock has risen in the 2026 league. The Midleton player, who was usually deployed as a substitute in previous campaigns, has become a regular starter under O'Connor.
"I think he has been O'Connor's on-field general," says Duignan.
"Brian Cody used to this. He used to pull lads from - I won't say obscurity because Tommy O'Connell has been on the Cork panel for a number of years - intermediate and junior clubs, the likes of Derek Lyng, who were on-field generals and played in Cody's preferred mode, with drive and determination.
"O'Connell has been on the panel but he wasn't making that Cork team. But Ben O'Connor has really trusted him and put him in. I think for that aggression. He's a very good hurler as well, he's very mobile. He is maybe the key player that they have found out of the National League."
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