Fresh Cork blow as hurling captain Darragh Fitzgibbon undergoes surgery

BLOW: Cork skipper Darragh Fitzgibbon will miss the remainder of the Munster campaign after appendix surgery on Saturday. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Even when Cork aren't playing Munster Championship hurling, their bad run of luck with injuries and ailments continues.

Captain Darragh Fitzgibbon is set to miss the remainder of the county’s Munster SHC campaign due to a case of appendicitis, Echo Live reports. 

Fitzgibbon underwent surgery on Saturday and is likely to face at least a month on the sidelines. Cork conclude their provincial round-robin campaign on Sunday against Clare, with the possibility of the Munster final on Sunday, June 7th.

The Charleville man will be targeting a return for the All-Ireland series – if Cork finish third in Munster or reach the final and lose it, Ben O’Connor’s side would be in quarter-final action on the weekend of June 20/21, while the retention of their Munster crown would send them straight through to the All-Ireland semis on July 4/5.

Vice-captain Mark Coleman will lead the team in Fitzgibbon's absence. The three-time All-Star joins Cork defenders Robert Downey and Ciarán Joyce on the injured list. Downey is recovering from an ankle-ligament problem but could make the Munster final if the Rebels get there. Unfortunately, Joyce is out for the remainder of the season due to a cruciate-ligament injury.