PREVIEW: Limerick and Cork prepare for maiden All-Ireland final clash

It all comes down to Sunday afternoon as Limerick take on Cork in the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final in Croke Park.

For the first time ever, the Munster rivals will meet in the Liam MacCarthy final with Limerick seeking to do the unprecedented and retain their All-Ireland title.

Cork on the other hand will be aiming for a first title in 16 years, their joint longest ever drought without a national triumph.

A Limerick win will see them join the Rebels, Kilkenny and Tipperary as the only teams with double digit All-Ireland wins.

The Shannonsiders currently sit on 9 triumphs with Cork in second place in the roll of honour on 30, six behind Kilkenny and two in front of Tipp.

John Kiely will be leading his side to a third All-Ireland final since his arrival in 2017, winning both of his previous final encounters in 2018 and 2020.

For Kieran Kingston it will be a maiden final appearance after losing successive All-Ireland semi-finals in 2017 and 2018, the latter coming against Limerick in an extra-time classic.

It will be the second meeting of the sides this summer after they were paired in the Munster semi-final in July.

That contest swung in a ten minute blitz prior to the half time whistle with Cork missing a penalty that would have sent them five clear before Limerick responded with a pair of goals to take a six point lead into the dressing rooms.

From here Limerick were comfortable in holding off the challenge of the Rebels, eventually winning out by eight points.

Limerick followed on from that performance by blitzing Tipperary in the Munster Final to complete a first three in a row of provincial titles in 85 years.

In the meantime, Cork had to come through the back door, beating Clare in the LIT Gaelic Grounds to set up a quarter-final clash with Dublin.

Against the capital side, the Rebels were much the better side throughout and were fully deserving of an eight point win.

The Shannonsiders were the first out in the semi-finals, furthering their All-Irelands credentials in a 1-25 to 0-17 smothering of Waterford to move into a second successive final.

The following day, Cork needed extra-time to overcome Kilkenny in an instant classic, as they let a late lead slip in normal time, before powering to a five-point victory.

For John Kiely and Limerick, there seems to be a clean bill of health heading to Jones Rd with Diarmaid Byrnes the only injury doubt, although the Patrickswell man is full expected to start. Kiely will also be able to plan with Peter Casey in mind after the Na Piarsaigh forward saw his semi-final red card rescinded.

Cork look set to be without Ger Millerick for the final as he aggravated his hamstring in the win over the Cats with the Fr O’Neills man “hoping I can play my part.”

Kingston will also be faced with the dilemma of whether to start his son Shane who shot 0-7 from the bench in a man of the match effort in the semi-final.

And while it will be the first All-Ireland final between the counties, they do have plenty of previous in Munster deciders.

On 21 previous occasions have Limerick and Cork met in a championship final with the Rebels having the upper hand on 16 of those.

Cork won the most recent meeting in 2014, twelve months after Limerick defeated the Leesiders at the same stage.

But needless to say, the stakes have never been so high for these proud counties.

And whichever way it goes, history will be made this Sunday.