Cadogan: Joyce and Downey injuries 'monumental' blows for Cork

Eoin Cadogan believes Eoin Downey will replace his brother Rob Downey at centre-back for the Cork hurlers while Damien Cahalane or Ger Millerick could slot into the fullback line in Ciarán Joyce's absence

Ciarán Joyce suffered an ACL injury during Cork's Munster SHC victory over Limerick. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Eoin Cadogan has described the injuries to Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey as “monumental” and expects Downey’s brother Eoin to switch to the latter’s centre-back role against Waterford on Saturday.

Having played at full and centre-back, former dual star Cadogan knows the impact of a season-ending cruciate tear suffered by Joyce and Downey’s ankle injury can do to a team.

As well as Eoin Downey moving from wing-back to replace his older brother, Cadogan envisages Damien Cahalane or Ger Millerick slotting in for Joyce at full-back.

“Obviously, the loss of Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey is monumental, really,” said the Douglas man, speaking exclusively as a Boyle Sports ambassador. 

“It's straight down the spine of your team. Probably expect Eoin Downey to come straight in at six with maybe either Cormac O’Brien or Micheál Mullins to come in at wing back maybe.

“And then three as well. Look, Damien Cahalane came on the last day. You’ve Ger Millerick there as well. It is a specialised position and both those lads have the experience of playing inside there, both club and county. And the way teams are setting up now is that most are leaving two inside, one going out.

“This Saturday, we're going to have Dessie Hutchinson come out the field floating with two inside. So like positions-wise, and I think Ben (O’Connor) has referenced it, sometimes it's just a defensive unit (effort) versus actually playing as a full back.” 

Cadogan feels the injuries have quelled some of the hype around the Cork team after beating Tipperary and Limerick. After falling to Waterford in Walsh Park two years ago, he doesn’t expect anybody in the Cork group will be getting ahead of themselves facing a Déise team fighting for their lives.

“Peter Queally will probably have looked at the last two games. They hit 4-21 against Clare and didn't come out winning. Last day against Tipperary, they were 12 points down (and drew), so they haven't put a consistent 70-minute spell together and I think they'll take huge confidence from that.

“When you're fighting on your back, it can become a come-out-swinging mentality and I think that's what Cork are going to expect. I think they've been forewarned, really.” 

5 May 2026; BOYLE Sports Gaelic games ambassador Eoin Cadogan, a former dual player with Cork, during a BOYLE Sports GAA Championships preview. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

On Sunday, they mean the same thing but Cadogan believes beating Kerry in Killarney for the first time in championship since 1995 is the next natural step for Cork’s footballers to take, more so than claiming a first Munster title in 14 years.

“To beat the All-Ireland champions down on their home patch would be monumental, really, and it's something within their capability.

“When I was playing, even this current group, it's consistency in performances. I think the big thing is, can they build on their Munster championship campaign, because they're going to need to be at their best to be competitive with Kerry.

“You think of the games they've played over the last few years, there hasn't been much in it. It was a draw last year and went to extra-time down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the rain.

“I think Cork can be quietly confident that they have improved in 2026. They go down here with very little expectation. They haven't won there since 1995 and they can give it a right crack.”

Cadogan agrees with Jack O’Connor that the timing of the All-Ireland SFC draw has cast a shadow over the Munster final. 

“We should be talking about Cork and Kerry in Killarney. It's like going to Thurles for Cork and Tipp for me. Brilliant atmosphere, two long-serving rivals going at it and instead we're talking about Kerry and Donegal in the draw and Cork and Meath as well on the flipside.

“Definitely something they need to look at is possibly the timing of the draw. But going into the game Kerry are All-Ireland champions and there's probably a lot more expected of them and a lot less expected of Cork.

“That day, 1995, it's a long time coming. I was in the draw game (in 2015). The last kick of the game, I think he (Fionn Fitzgerald) was trying to land it into Donaghy, personally. I was standing there at the edge of the square hoping he would but, yeah, look I think it's a good opportunity for Cork to see have they progressed and I think they have progressed really well under John Cleary.”