LIMERICK and Cork meet in the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final this Sunday.
The clash will be the first All-Ireland final meeting of the provincial rivals who have played out some classics in recent years.
In the newly revamped Pairc Ui Chaoimh, there was nothing to separate the sides in an enthralling draw in the Munster championship.
However, just seven weeks later, the sides went one better in the All-Ireland semi-final, playing out one of the greatest games of all time with 68 scores over the course of 90 unforgettable minutes.
As the sides prepare to face off in Croker again this week, it is worth reliving that classic encounter.
After their epic encounter in the Munster Championship at the start of June, this game promised a lot.
What it delivered was out of this world.
Just magical.
Limerick came into the game after defeating Kilkenny in another classic while Cork’s Munster championship win saw them directly into the semi-final.
The teams started at a frantic pace and continued in that vein for the next two hours.
Limerick edged in front 0-5 to 0-3 inside the opening quarter before Cork responded by moving into a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.
Limerick would have the final act of the half with Cian Lynch’s goal pushing them one ahead after a lovely pickout from Seamus Flanagan.
Cork were quickly level after the restart an pushed ahead once more.
The game really burst into life on 53 minutes with Conor Lehane’s goal seeing Cork move five clear of Limerick.
Substitute Shane Dowling replied for Limerick but Lehane and Darragh Fitzgibbon pushed Cork 1-26 to 1-20 ahead with just six minutes of time remaining.
But Limerick were far from done.
Gillane started the comeback and was ably assited by Kyle Hayes and Shane Dowling as Limerick brought it back to within a goal.
Gillane would level for Limerick in injury time to a ruptourous roar from Hedquarters.
Cork almost had the perfect response as Robbie O’Flynn squared for Seamus Harnedy right in front of the Limerick goal.
Somehow Nickie Quaid got a flick on the sliotar and moments later Limerick were down the other end of the field with a free to go ahead with time almost up.
Gillane duly obliged but there was still enough time for a Patrick Horgan leveller to bring the game to extra time.
The first period of extra-time was cagey with Limerick holding a slender 1-30 to 1-29 lead with ten minutes remaining.
Buoyed by the inspirational Shane Dowling, Limerick would overpower their opponents in the second period with Dowling blasting a goal before Pat Ryan’s audacious flick over Quaid cemented the historic win in Croke Park.
Doloras O’Riordan’s Linger that played at full time was the perfect tonic for what was an exhilarating exhibition of hurling from both teams.
Cork vs Limerick
Limerick’s Peter Casey, Darragh O’Donovan, Graeme Mulcahy and Seamus Flanagan celebrate at the final whistle
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-13 (7fs), Shane Dowling 1-4 (1-0 pen, 1f), Graeme Mulcahy 0-4, Cian Lynch 1-1, Gearoid Hegarty 0-3, Pat Ryan 1-0, David Reidy, Barry Nash, Tom Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, Kyle Hayes, Seamus Flanagan, Diarmuid Byrnes (free) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-11 (1-10fs), Conor Lehane 1-3, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-4, Shane Kingston and Daniel Kearney 0-3 each, Seamus Harnedy and Mark Coleman (1 sideline) 0-2 each, Luke Meade, Christopher Joyce, Jack O’Connor 0-1 each
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmudid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O’Donovan, Cian Lynch; Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy.
Subs: Peter Casey for T Morrissey (51), Shane Dowling for Flanagan (57), Pat Ryan for Mulcahy (63), William O’Donoghue for O’Donovan (70), Seamus Hickey for Byrnes (77), Barry Nash for Gillane (84), David Reidy for Hannon (87).
Cork: Anthony Nash; Sean O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane; Christopher Joyce, Eoin Cadogan, Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Luke Meade, Seamus Harnedy, Daniel Kearney; Patrick Horgan, Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane.
Subs: Robbie O’Flynn for Kingston (55), Mark Ellis for Kearney (60), Tim O’Mahony for Meade (65), Michael Cahalane for Cadogan (70), Daniel Kearney for M Cahalane (71), M Cahalane for Harnedy (77), Shane Kingston for Fitzgibbon (78), Jack O’Connor for Kearney (84).
REFEREE: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).
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