FOR a fourth time this season, Limerick and Cork will meet when the Mick Mackey Cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Finals at a packed Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday, 2pm (referee: James Ownes, Wexford).
In the spring, Limerick won both League meetings (including the final) between the pair at the Gaelic Grounds, but Cork prevailed in the more important Championship opener on Leeside in April.
The showdown is also a repeat of last year’s Saturday night final at the Gaelic Grounds, when Cork came through following a dramatic penalty shoot-out (which is also in place should normal/extra-time not separate next weekend’s finalists).
For Limerick, it’s an immediate opportunity to atone for 2025 and also win a final against Cork for the very first time at the venue, having lost previous such encounters in 1920, ‘76, ‘92 and ‘14.
“It has the makings of a proper game of hurling, and that is where every player should want to be, in a Munster final where it matters most,” stated John Kiely, Limerick manager, after the recent runaway home win over the outgoing All-Ireland champions, Tipperary.
“We will try to put our best foot forward and improve our performance levels over recent weeks. They have been reasonable to good, but we want more. We want more from the group as a whole, sustained throughout the game. That is going to require fellas to dig deep now. I know they will.”
“Delighted,” responded Cork boss Ben O’Connor after his side downed Clare to set up this provincial showdown. “For the last 10 years, Limerick have been the team to beat. It’s going to be a fierce battle here.”
Injury-free Limerick are expected to field along familiar lines, but with a few places up for grabs between Mike Casey/Barry Nash, Tom Morrissey/Adam English, David Reidy/Peter Casey/Shane O’Brien.
Kiely will name his starting selection on Friday morning.
Cork will be without the injured trio captain Darragh Fitzgibbon (Mark Coleman deputises), Robbie O’Flynn and Ciarán Joyce, but will have plenty of other leading figures, such as serious scoring threats Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett, William Buckley, Shane Kingston and Alan Connolly.
For Limerick to annex title number 26 it will take an awesome effort, and if achieved, it will represent one of the sweetest victories of all time!
Dublin and Galway contest the Leinster Final at Croke Park on Saturday, while Offaly and Clare have also qualified for the All-Ireland Series as third-placed finishers in Leinster and Munster, respectively.