THE Liam MacCarthy will be heading to Munster for the fourth successive year as Limerick and Cork face off this Sunday.
The race for the Liam MacCarthy is down to two as Limerick and Cork meet in the 2021 All-Ireland Hurling Final this weekend.
The first ever final meeting of the teams promises to be a close encounter with both sides hitting their strides as the summer progressed.
With fine margins certain to decide the contest, look below at where each team holds the aces.
Goalkeeper
Nickie Quaid (Limerick) v
Patrick Collins (Cork)
As debut seasons go, Patrick Collins has impressed at every stage, continuously improving, filling in ably for the departing Anthony Nash. But in the opposite goals on Sunday will be one of the current standard bearers as Nickie Quaid, alongside Eoin Murphy, continue to revolutionise the position.
Advantage Limerick.
Full Back Line
Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash (Limerick) v
Sean O’Donoghue, Robert Downey, Niall O’Leary (Cork)
Limerick’s All-Ireland winning full-back line of 2020 got their first start of the year together last time out against Waterford and didn’t miss a beat as they shut out the Deise for their fourth consecutive clean sheet when starting together. Barry Nash is having his finest season to date while Dan Morrissey is another performance away from a third All Star. And in Sean Finn, they have the best in the business.
Cork’s full back line, which for so long was an achilles heel, has been transformed, mainly with the repositioning of Robert Downey to the edge of the square. The Glen Rovers man has been colossus in their past two games either side of Niall O’Leary and Sean O’Donoghue. The fact that they are keeping the now fit Colm Spillane out of the team says it all.
Very evenly matched here.
Half Back Line
Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes (Limerick) v
Tim O’Mahony, Mark Coleman, Eoin Cadogan / Ger Millerick
Declan Hannon had his finest game of the year in the semi-final, giving a timely reminder to anyone who needed it that he is the premier centre-back in the game. Kyle Hayes and Diarmaid Byrnes are compete wing backs and will take serious minding by their opposition with 2-10 between them in their three games so far.
Mark Coleman has really settled into life at no.6 and looks a natural successor to Hannon in the way he plays, always so calm and reliant on the ball. While his role is now more reserved, Tim O’Mahony has filled the gap on the wing and showcased his supreme talent in the win over Kilkenny where he recovered from a sloppy mistake late on to power his side to victory in extra-time. The injury of Ger Millerick will be a real concern with Eoin Cadogan the likely to replace him.
That hands Limerick the edge here.
Midfield
William O’Donoghue & Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick) v
Luke Meade & Conor Cahalane (Cork)
The Limerick duo of O’Donovan and O’Donoghue are just one game away from both picking up All-Stars, such has been their form this Summer. O’Donovan was head and shoulders above everyone on the field in the semi-final while O’Donoghue put the shackles on Jamie Barron and is the heartbeat of the Limerick side.
Up against them on Sunday will be Luke Meade and likely Conor Cahalane, although he will be named at wing forward. Cahalane and Darragh Fitzgibbon will swap positions throughout and will know how important it will be to break even in midfield having seen Waterford suffer in that regard a fortnight ago.
Regardless, Limerick have the edge here and will want to lay down a marker.
Half Forward Line
Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey (Limerick) v
Darragh Fitzgibbon, Seamus Harnedy, Robbie O’Flynn / Shane Kingston (Cork)
As mentioned above, Fitzgibbon and Cahalane will interchange positions throughout the contest. In the middle Seamus Harnedy has proved his worth this season but it is on the other wing where the biggest questions lay. Shane Kingston started the Munster semi-final clash and grabbed a goal. However, for the All-Ireland semi-final he found himself among the subs before exploding onto the game from the bench with a 0-7 salvo. Robbie O’Flynn has really nailed down a position on the wing but could under pressure from the Douglas man who could be used at 12, in the corner or from the bench.
Nonetheless, despite the obvious quality in the Cork half forward line, there is no team that can compare with the Limerick trio of Hegarty, Lynch and Morrissey. While the latter two are in the conversation for Hurler of the Year gong, last year’s recipient Hegarty has yet to hit top form which is a worry for Cork with the St Patricks man capable of winning the game on his own as he showed in a man of the match display in last years final.
Both sides are littered with quality here but again Limerick hold a slight advantage.
Full Forward Line
Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey (Limerick) v
Shane Barrett, Patrick Horgan, Jack O’Connor (Cork)
Peter Casey’s successful appeal means the a Piarsaigh man is set to start his first ever All-Ireland final after making an impact from the bench in 2018 and 2020. Casey is having his best season to date in the corner while back to back All-Star Aaron Gillane is approaching his best levels. However, it has been Seamus Flanagan that has been Limerick’s standout inside forward this summer with the Feohanagh Castlemahon a shoo-in for a first All-Star such have been his performances.
Who starts for Cork is a mystery with Shane Barrett getting the nod from the start in the semi-final but Alan Cadogan hitting over 0-3 from the bench. Declan Dalton also impressed from the bench scoring an impressive point. Whoever Kingston plucks for, they will be placed beside Patrick Horgan and Jack O’Connor. The duo combined for 1-18 against Kilkenny with 1-9 of that coming from play. In contrast they accounted for just 0-3 from play against Limerick earlier this summer.
Cork have arguably the more dangerous inside unit but Limerick have been so consistent up top this summer. Hard to call.
Replacements
Much has been made of Limerick’s bench over the past three years and this year it has been no different. Dave Reidy, Graeme Mulcahy and Conor Boylan have been Kiely’s go to forwards this year with Pat Ryan and the returning Barry Murphy more options from the bench. In the backs he can call on the likes of Richie English and Colin Coughlan who made his debut in the semi-final.
However, Cork are the one team that can put it up to Limerick in terms of squad depth with Kingston having a real squad at his disposal. As mentioned above, three of Shane Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn, Shane Barrett, Alan Connolly and Alan Cadogan won’t start the final. Outside of that, Kingston can call on Colm Spillane, Sean O’Leary Hayes and Declan Dalton.
Evens here.
Overall
Limerick were fully deserving of their win in the Munster semi-final, failing to hit top gear but still ending up with eight points to spare. Yet, Cork have improved greatly in the meantime, with their run of three successive wins providing huge confidence in the youthful squad.
But Limerick have also improved and appear to have another level which was briefly seen against Tipp in the Munster final.
If Limerick hit top form they will win, anything less will allow Cork a chance to end the famine.
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