GAA/All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round One: Gavin Cummiskeyasks Ronan Curran if he is looking forward to the experience of playing Dublin in the capital

Ronan Curran has never been to Parnell Park. In fact, the Cork centre back has never faced a Dublin hurling team. The sports editor asked an obvious question earlier this week: When did Dublin last play Cork in the championship? The championship sponsors Guinness release a fairly handy weekly statistics guide for forthcoming games. That couldn't help us though.

We did some research on our new archive system and discovered the last meeting was the 1952 All-Ireland final, when Cork claimed their 17th title on a 2-14 to 0-7 scoreline.

Under the headline, Cork's easy victory in hurling final, we referred back to the report by the former Irish TimesGAA correspondent Pat O' for what happened the last time these teams crossed hurleys in the championship.

Dublin held pace in the first half and trailed by just three points:

D Ferguson stayed with (Christy) Ring like a shadow.

The Dublin forwards' accuracy betrayed them and gradually Cork and Ring began to dominate.

Every Cork shot, whatever the distance or the angle, found the posts, widening the margin every minute.

In contrast, Dublin's attacks were beaten back like waves off a rock-bound coast.

This might very well come in handy in next Monday's match report.

So, Cork v Dublin in Donnycarney is a novel event. There was 64,332 at their last meeting, but terrace tickets are still on sale for tomorrow. Live television hardly helps.

Cork dipping their toes into the qualifier pool is also a new occurrence, arguably caused by the controversial four-week suspensions imposed on Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Donal Óg Cusack and Diarmuid O'Sullivan.

And yet, they were only dumped into the qualifiers by the width of a crossbar.

Considering Cork have been plying their trade in front of the masses for several years now, it must be tough to make such an adjustment?

"It's a new challenge," says Curran. "Obviously, we are used to playing in Semple and up there in Croke Park, but we are actually looking forward to going up to Parnell Park. It'll be a challenge. A big home crowd supporting Dublin. We'll be up against it."

Curran noted the return of the three suspended defenders as an obvious bonus, especially considering Cork conceded five goals against Waterford, but it's offset by injuries to Tom Kenny and Niall McCarthy.

"Tom is going to be a major loss. I thought he was brilliant the last day. He carried a lot of ball for us. He is a major player for us. He will be a big loss throughout the qualifiers. So will Niall McCarthy who provides a lot of strength up front."

Are they out for the duration of the qualifiers?

"Niall has a broken bone in his foot and is still recovering - hopefully, an All-Ireland quarter-final.

"Tom has a bad hamstring injury. He'll be out for a while."

Kenny sustained the injury when heroically stretching to block what seemed a certain Paul Flynn goal.

Last year, Cork were found wanting when faced by a ravenous Kilkenny. Maybe the qualifier path can help them rediscover the required hunger.

"It's a long year. Obviously, we would love to be in the Munster final, but we have to take this route now. I suppose it's a whole new competition and one we are looking forward to.

"We'll prepare for every game as it comes. Hopefully the hunger is there, but we'll only see as the year goes on."