Limerick and Cork set to write unique chapter in their storied history

Limerick and Cork prepare to write the newest and most unique chapter in their storied rivalry when they meet in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final on Sunday afternoon.

This weekend’s clash will be the first ever All-Ireland final meeting between the team and for the second successive year it will be a provincial clash after Limerick overcame Waterford in the 2020 decider.

The sides have played out some epic encounter’s since John Kiely’s arrival, notably their pair of meetings in the 2018 championship.

In July of that year, Kiely’s youthful charges travelled to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to take on Cork after capturing a first Munster championship win in three years the previous week against Tipp.

In the Pairc, Limerick started brightly before the defending provincial champions hit their stride. The sides look poised approaching the half before Aaron Gillane was dismissed for a striking action. However, with their numerical disadvantage, Limerick seemed unperturbed and drew level on 44 minutes.

Cork’s response was immediate with Patrick Horgan firing past Nickie Quaid. But again Limerick responded and moved in front five minutes after the goal with Seamus Flanagan hitting over his fifth of the day. With time running out, Limerick’s lead was three but the Rebels reeled them in down the home stretch.

Yet, there was time for 19-year-old Kyle Hayes to fire over before Sean Finn’s last ditch block on Seamus Harnedy ensured a share of the spoils.

Eager fans hadn’t to wait long for the rematch as the sides met seven weeks later in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Cian Lynch’s goal was the difference between the sides at the break as Limerick led by the minimum. But Cork steadily took control in the second period with Conor Lehane’s goal after 52 minutes pulling them five clear.

The gap was six with as many minutes to play as Cork looked set for a first All-Ireland final appearance in five years.

But quickfire frees from Aaron Gillane either side of a Kyle Hayes effort brough the sides within a score.

Three more unanswered had Limerick level with 72 minutes on the clock. From the resulting puckout Cork went the length of the field but a moment of heroic defending from Nickie Quaid was enough to thwart Harnedy.

Gillane and Horgan nervelessly swapped frees with the time in the red to force extra-time.

After a breathless ten minutes of extra time there was just a point between the sides. Limerick’s superiority off the bench eventually told with goals from Shane Dowling and Pat Ryan eventually sealing the 3-32 to 2-31 win.

Nine months later Cork would gain their revenge, inflicting Limerick’s first loss since the All-Ireland win in the Munster Championship.

Patrick Horgan’s second half goal helped the Rebels come away from the LIT Gaelic Grounds with a comfortable seven point win.

The latest instalment in their rivalry came earlier this July when they were paired in the Munster semi-final, their first knockout meeting in the province since the 2014 final.

Shane Kingston’s goal midway through the half helped Cork into a five point lead which could have been more were it not for the exploits of Nickie Quaid, who expertly stopped Horgan’s goalbound penalty.

That save swung the momentum of the game as did green flags from Darragh O’Donovan and Kyle Hayes as Limerick took a six point cushion into the interval.

From here they retained that lead, eventually moving into the Munster final by virtue of a 2-22 to 1-17 victory.

But as the sides prepare to do battle once more this Sunday, previous meetings will count for little as both seek to write their name into the history books.