Cork and Limerick face off again
The Munster Hurling Championship took another turn last Saturday with Clare’s defeat to Tipperary who re-ignited their ambitions while at the same time all but ended the Banner’s grip on the Liam McCarthy Cup. They are now dependent on results elsewhere if they are to extend their season.
It makes next Sunday all the more intriguing when Cork and Limerick renew rivalry in the Gaelic Grounds, and before that it’s Tipp and Waterford in Thurles.
There’s a big game also on Friday night with the Munster Minor Hurling Final taking place.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Cork v Limerick on Sunday in Gaelic Grounds at 4pm
“We’re ready and really looking forward to the game against a quality team that have shown how good they are over the years. It’s some achievement to be going for 7 Munster titles is a row,” Cork manager Pat Ryan said on Sunday’s eagerly awaited encounter.
Both sides remain unbeaten with 2 games to go, and the winners will be in a strong position to make the final.
Pat also agrees that the scheduling has suited the team. “It has especially with playing (and winning) the league final, we were then into two games in 7 days so the break was welcome. The lads had some downtime and others played with their clubs in the league.”
As for the injuries, specifically to captain Robert Downey who looked in real trouble coming off against Tipperary: “Rob is fine - he’s good to go.”
In fact with the exception of Padraig Power, all are ready. The depth in the squad is good and that’s important. “It is and you need everyone fit and ready; after Sunday we have a 7 day turnaround to Waterford and you are bound to pick up a few knocks along the way.”
Even allowing for the early dismissal of Darragh McCarthy, the manner of the win over Tipperary was impressive. “It was for the most part, we dipped a bit in the 2nd half and we will work on that but overall we were good and finished well.”
Cork’s record against Limerick in the last couple of years has been excellent - 2 wins last year, a draw this year in the league and even in 2023 a narrow 1 point defeat with Limerick getting a controversial penalty late on.
Pat knows Sunday is a new game and was impressed with John Kiely’s men in their win over Waterford last time out and they have depth in their squad, and would appear to be timing their season to perfection.
“Look we all know how good a team they are and even when they are without big game players, they have others to fit in and show the quality they possess.”
Against Waterford they were well in control: “Right from the off they dictated matters on the field and they were very sharp.”
Against Waterford they looked back to very near their best and afterwards manager John Kiely said as much. “Yeah very happy, had a good run in and played well - a few aspects to work on but yeah all good.”
Kiely also encouraged Limerick supporters to turn out in big numbers for the visit of Cork.
To be fair, apart from Cork, Limerick supporters are among the best in the country and there was a real big crowd in Walsh Park the last night, maybe John is playing a bit of phoney war given that Cork have had the upper hand in recent meetings.
The two games last year were among the best we have seen in recent years and many of the same players will once again go at it hammer and tongs.
Declan Hannon and Seamus Flanagan have yet to feature for the reigning Munster champions but the rest are there including goalkeeper Nicky Quaid.
Interestingly Kiely whipped Diarmuid Byrnes off the last day after just 20 minutes as he was on a yellow card, and we saw how red cards shaped other games in this championship. Bold move but one they coped comfortably with as Byrnes is a huge player for that team.
Cian Lynch gave a masterclass, as did Kyle Hayes, Aarron Gillane drilled over 0-9, Gearoid Hegarty, Shane O’Brien, Adam English and Sean Finn were their usual efficient selves - almost the complete display.
The composition of the Cork starting 15 is unlikely to change much from the Tipperary game now that Robert Downey has been declared fit, there will be no change in the defence.
It looks certain that Ethan Twomey and Tim O’Mahoney will once again man the midfield role.
For the attack with Shane Barrett available again, will he start and if he does, who will lose out?
Brian Hayes and congrats on his well deserved PWC POTM award, Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly and Darragh Fitzgibbon are certain to start.
If Barrett is picked, will Seamus Harnedy or Declan Dalton lose out?
It has the makings of a real cracker and match ups will be crucial, as will goals, Cork are really in the mood for getting them - 6 in the 2 games to date. Limerick were content to take points 0-30 against Waterford, but remember they did get 3 in that epic encounter last summer in the Páirc.
I heard someone say this is a free hit for Cork with Waterford at home next week, but you can be assured that is not the thinking of players and management, they go out and want to win every game. After all they are unbeaten since the league loss to Tipperary in Thurles on a wet and windy night in February.
As Pat Ryan said: “We were on 3 points before (2023) with a game to go and didn’t qualify so 4 or 5 is needed and that is our aim.”
It’s hard one to call, with so many very good players on both sides.
Could it end in a draw and that would keep the pot boiling until the final round, with Clare almost certainly out of the championship away to Limerick or will there be a winner and with it a place in the Munster Final with a game to spare?
Cork have narrowly had the measure of Limerick recently and I’m going to give them the nod to win, and like the previous outings, narrowly.
A word on the supporters from Pat Ryan: “Absolutely incredible and it is really appreciated by the team and we know they will be out in force on Sunday.”
Of that you can be certain.
The match is live on C103.
Both sides will know how the race for the top 3 is shaping up by the time they take the field as in Semple Stadium at 2pm, it’s Tipperary v Waterford and on the back of their win in Ennis, Tipp will be fancied to win this one and in the process guarantee their season will extend into June.
Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Final
Cork v Waterford in Semple Stadium Thurles on Friday at 7.30pm
“Happy enough with the win and delighted to be in the final but very disappointed with the overall performance - fell well below the standard we set ourselves,” said Cork manager Fergal McCormack after the final group game against Tipperary.
It was a strange game in a muted atmosphere that Friday in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Cork were already into the final and Tipperary the reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions were out and could not even make the preliminary QFs after 3 defeats.
Fergal did agree that in such a scenario the focus had switched to the final: “Possibly so and after all they are only 17 but it gives us plenty to work on for the final and we now have a two week run in which will also help as we have been going pretty much every week since the championship started.”
As for Waterford Fergal knows they face a tough hour: “We knew all along they were one of the top teams in this championship, and you saw it here in the group game; okay we won but it took a huge effort to get the win.”
Waterford had a very impressive campaign and their only defeat was against Cork.
On that night they played very well and took the lead with a goal on 41 minutes from Jamie Shanahan but Cork’s response was excellent. They outscored the visitors from there to the finish by 0-11 to 0-2, a sure sign that this is a very good Cork team.
They were tested that night and will be again as in James Comerford, Cormac Spain, Jack Power, Eoin Burke, Hugo Quann, Tommy Kennedy and Conor Lynch, they have quality players who have been impressive in their run to this final.
Cork equally have produced some brilliant displays notably in their away games to Clare and Limerick.
Defensively they are solid: Darragh Haevin, Michael Tadgh Brosnan, Colm Garde front an excellent goalkeeper in Thomas C Walsh.
The midfield pairing of Jack Counihan and Ryan Dineen has given them a platform to control games while the attack has displayed the ruthlessness required to win games at this level.
Cormac Deane, Craig O’Sullivan, Eoghan O’Shea and Callum Coffey have racked up big scores and troubled every defensive unit to date.
Cork are favourites, justifiably so but finals take on a life of their own and remember these lads are still only 16/17 - a big occasion for them.
That said I like the look of this team and the style of hurling they play; it’s fast and direct at all times, and if they play as well as we all know they can, they will win.
Both sides progress to the All-Ireland series with Cork to do so as champions.
Camogie controversy
It hasn’t been the best of weeks for the Camogie Association as the skorts/shorts saga rumbles on.
A number of high profile games have been postponed which apart from the fixture congestion will hamper most counties in their preparation for the All-Ireland Championship which starts on the weekend of the 24/25 May.
The latest is the Munster Intermediate Final between Cork and Kerry which was scheduled for Sunday next.
Hopefully the Special Congress on 22 May will approve of the proposal to allow players the option of choice and that will finally bring the matter to a close.
Just one final though on it: what happens if the motion is lost - unlikely it must be said - but you never know, then what happens?