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Yesterday, the Limerick Hurlers should have opened their 2020 championship account with a trip to Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the first round of the Munster Hurling Championship.
While we knew for a long time that this was not going to be the case, it was still a blow to the psyche with clashes between the pair always delivering, especially in recent years.
Nonetheless, while we missed out on the 2020 clash, below we look back on the previous five clashes between the sides with two wins for both and an epic draw mixed in.
Limerick 0-24 : 0-15 Cork, Munster Hurling Final
14 July 2013 at the Gaelic Grounds
Both sides came to the Ennis Road looking to end a barren run without Munster honours. While Cork’s last Munster win came in 2006, Limerick had to go back to 1996 for their last provincial win.
Limerick started nervously but the Rebels couldn’t pull away from John Allen’s plucky side. With the sides deadlocked at 0-10 a piece heading towards half-time, the game turned when Pat Horgan was sent off for connecting with the helmet of Paudie O’Brien.
While the decision was correct, it was harsh on the Glen man who had no malice in his strike. Nonetheless, Limerick saw their opportunity and used their man advantage expertly in the second half to spark scenes of joy in Limerick.
Cork 2-24 : 0-24 Limerick, Munster Hurling Final
13 July 2014 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh
365 days later, Cork would exact revenge for the 2013 Munster Final defeat as they claimed Munster honours in the last game at the old Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Again both sides were evenly matched in the opening half with the score level at 0-12 apiece at the half time whistle.
With a quarter of an hour remaining the sides were still level at 0-18 apiece before an excellent Seamus Harnedy goal brought some daylght betwen the teams.
Paudie O’Sullivan’s late goal would seal the deal to give Cork a first provincial win in eight years.
Limerick 0-28 : 0-25 Cork, Munster Hurling Championship
2 June 2018 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Four years would pass before Limerick returned to the newly revamped Pairc Ui Chaoimh. John Kiely’s side came into the game off the back of an excellent win over Tipp in the opening round of the competition.
However, John Meyler’s Cork were defending Munster Champions and started brightly on a perfect Saturday evening for hurling. Cork held a two-point lead after 25 when Aaron Gillane was sent off for a wild pull.
Kiely’s charges refused to lie down and midway through the second half held a three-point lead despite their numerical disadvantage and Patrick Horgan’s sucker punch goal.
Limerick would eventually tire with Darragh Fitzgibbon putting Cork ahead late on. But there was still time for Kyle Hayes to level an extraordinary game which promised for a great summer of hurling.
Limerick 3-32 : 2-31 Cork (AET), All-Ireland Semi-Final
29 July 2018 at Croke Park
While the Munster Championship was a cracker in its own right, this game between the sides eight weeks later was one of the best games of hurling ever played in Croke Park, breaking all kinds of scoring records.
Cork were looking to avenge the defeat to Waterford at the same stage the previous year while Limerick were seeking a first All-Ireland final berth since 2007.
The contest was frantic from the outset with Limerick holding a slender 1-12 to 0-14 advantage at the break. Conor Lehane’s goal midway through the second put Cork five ahead with the Rebels holding a six point lead with as many minutes remaining.
Kiely’s side never panicked and seven unanswered scores (as well as Nickie Quaid’s heroics) put Limerick on the brink before Pat Horgan sent the sides to extra-time.
From here, Limerick overpowered the Rebels with Shane Dowling and Pat Ryan’s goals sealing the victory.
A highlight package wont do it justice, watch the game in full here.
Cork 1-26 : 1-19 Limerick, Munster Hurling Championship
19 May 2019 at the Gaelic Grounds
Cork avenged that epic semi-final loss as they defeated the reigning All-Ireland and League champions Limerick in the opening round of last years Munster Championship.
Limerick shot out of the blocks the quicker and held the lead throughout the first half with Graeme Mulcahy’s goal separating the sides at the half.
However, Cork slowly began to dictate the game with Pat Horgan putting Cork into the lead ten minutes into the second half.
His goal five minutes later pushed the Cork lead out to 1-18 to 1-14 and in truth they never looked like relenting as they eased to a seven point victory.
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