Will it be yet another epic Munster Hurling Final?

There’s another cracking Cork v Limerick final to look forward to - the third in under 12 months, while big games as well for the minor footballers along with camogie and ladies footballers in an action packed weekend.

Munster Senior Hurling Final

Cork v Limerick on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm

It’s a fourth meeting of these two sides this season with Limerick winning 3 to Cork’s 1 but all that has gone before will be put to one side for 70 plus minutes on Sunday as they chase a provincial tile. Cork are bidding to retain it while Limerick are looking for their 7th in 8 years.

There is no doubt they are the best two teams around and many feel that irrespective of the result on Sunday, they will meet again in the All-Ireland Final, but for now the focus from Cork’s perspective is to retain the title and take the direct route to the semi-final.

As Ben O’Connor explains: “Munster medals are precious as I know from my own playing days and the lads want to win another one and I am sure the Limerick lads are the same.”

Ben is full of admiration for Limerick. “They have been the benchmark for the last number of years and anytime we play them it has produced some cracking games and I am sure Sunday will be no different.” The win over Clare pleased the manager. “We got the job done early and that was pleasing because we were then able to get game time into a few lads and another couple picked up slight knocks and we could afford to take them off.”

He also confirmed that captain Darragh Fitzgibbon will play no part on Sunday. “It’s just that bit too soon; he’s back training but there’s a good few weeks left in the season yet so he won’t be risked.”

In Fitzgibbon’s absence, Mark Coleman assumes that role of captain and the Blarney man who has had that honour before, is delighted. “Yeah it’s a great honour for my family and my club but the important matter is that we win the game, but we know how tough it is going to be.”

Mark is chasing his 4th Munster medal but just like the manager knows the quality Limerick have, describing them as “the standout team for years, but for all that we don’t fear them; our championship record in the last few years is quite good and hopefully we can maintain that run.”

What both Ben and Mark agree on is Munster Final day is special and the atmosphere will be electric. To be fair apart, from Cork, Limerick are the best supported team in the championship. “Incredible” is the word Ben used to describe Cork fans while Mark said “the supporters are absolutely fantastic and as a team it is something we really appreciate”.

When the sides met in the round-robin phase, Limerick were awesome in the opening quarter and threatened to run out easy winners, but Shane Barrett’s goal turned the game and in the end, Cork got over the line by 2 points.

Limerick were without Aarron Gillane and had captain Cian Lynch sent-off with about 20 minutes to go - would they have made a difference? Probably, but in the end Cork got the win.

The response from Limerick was emphatic they won their 3 remaining games with a degree of ease and now head back to Leeside, favoured by many to win.

A look at their team indicates strength all over the field: Nickey Quaid, Kyle Hayes, Diarmuid Byrnes, Lynch, Shane O’Brien, Gearóid Hegarty and of course Gillane, experienced and well versed in the art of winning and no doubt they are still hurting at Cork denying them the 7 in a row last July.

Cork’s starting 15 is unlikely to differ from the win over Clare.

Patrick Collins will be fronted the usual 6 and the form of O’Donoghue, O’Leary and the Downeys has been excellent.

Tommy O’Connell is a warrior in midfield alongside Tim O’Mahoney.

The attack picks itself and the energy of Barry Walsh and William Buckley has added an extra dimension to that area, with Brian Hayes, Shan Barrett and Alan Connolly - whose free taking is top class - having the capacity to trouble any defence.

Cork would not want to allow Limerick to build an early lead, they will look to get a better start than last time out.

Key ingredients that Cork have is pace and an incredible work rate from 2 to 15 they never stop, can Limerick cope with it for 70 plus minutes, especially if it’s a summer Sunday?

It’s a fascinating contest in prospect; Cork have won 4 of the last 5 championship meetings, Limerick will want to alter that record, but can they?

Limerick are slight favourites, but my nod is for Cork to win, but it might take more than 70 minutes to do that.

As ever, the match is live on C103 and on the Onic Player.