Cork have been dealt another injury blow ahead of their Munster SFC final with Kerry after defender Noel O'Leary was ruled out with a serious shoulder injury.
O'Leary was not among the experienced names left on the sidelines by new manager Conor Counihan when The Rebels squeezed past Limerick in the provincial semi-final.
But the halfback will now miss out in the Páirc Ui Chaoimh decider - the first meeting of the sides since Kerry completely outplayed Cork in last September's All-Ireland final.
O'Leary took a knock to his AC joint playing in a Cork county championship clash for Muskerry against Ballincollig on Sunday, and despite playing the entire match, a subsequent medical examination decreed that he would not be fit to line out for Counihan's side on Sunday week (July 6th).
O'Leary joins newcomer Paudie Kissane on the sidelines after the Clyda Rovers man broke his forearm which rules him out for much of the season. Midfielder Alan O'Connor is also a doubt for the Kerry game having picked up a knock against Limerick.
Anthony Lynch may now come into the side in O'Leary's absence and Aghada'a Kieran O'Connor, who replaced Kissane against Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's side, may also earn a start.