What our pundits think ahead of Limerick's Munster Senior Hurling Championship clash against Cork

Brian Begley, TJ Ryan, Mike McMahon, Wayne McNamara and Adrian O'Sullivan give their thoughts ahead of this weekend's Munster Senior Hurling Championship clash between Limerick and Cork. 

Brian Begley (Former Limerick Hurler)

Do you see John Kiely making any changes to the Limerick starting XV?

“I DON'T see John Kiely making any changes ahead of Sunday, Limerick looked a lot more settled against Waterford with Dan Morrisey back at full-back and Kyle Hayes at centre half-back. There was a really good balance to the team with Cian Lynch pulling the strings up front and Shane O'Brien becoming a real target man inside.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF THE MUSNTER SHC SO FAR?

The Munster championship has been superb so far, the first round results really opened things up, Clare's come back against Cork and real battle between Limerick and Tipperary. Waterford are still in the mix with Tipperary showing huge character. I've no doubt it will throw up one or two more surprises in the next few games.

What kind of game are you expecting on Sunday?

I expect a real open, high-scoring game of hurling Sunday, the two best teams in the country at the moment and the two favourites for the All-Ireland. Cork will look to maintain the form they have show through the league and in the early rounds of the championship. Limerick will have to be really sharp at the back. Limerick looked to be coming back to their best against Waterford, a lot of the injuries they had during the league have cleared up and those players will continue to improve with more game time.

Who will come on top between Limerick and Cork?

I think Limerick will edge this game by a couple of points. It promises to be a huge occasion in the Gaelic Grounds with full a house. Cork will come to Limerick with huge confidence and will look to impose their running game on Limerick and if they do they will be hard to stop. I think Limerick will look to build on the Waterford game and with some improvement in accuracy. I think they will have enough experience at the back to limit this really talented Cork forward line.

Do you see Limerick and Cork meeting later in the year?

I think this could be the first of a number of games between Limerick and Cork this year, with a possible Munster final meeting as well. Still a lot of hurling to be played in Munster, both teams won't be looking beyond Sunday.

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Wayne McNamara (Former Limerick hurler)

Do you see John Kiely making any changes to the Limerick starting XV?

“LIMERICK performed well against Waterford so there is little need to change much. Impact off the bench will be interesting in what will be an energy sapping contest.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF THE MUSNTER SHC SO FAR?

As always it has been fiercely competitive with final group placings being decided in the last round which highlights the importance of every match. Waterford beating Clare has given the Munster Championship a new complexion. Tipperary have put themselves in a strong position. Clare look under pressure, but Cork needed results to go their way this time last year too.

What kind of game are you expecting on Sunday?

Everything suggests it will be a cracking match. Cork's explosive attacking strengths are clear so Limerick's ability to curtail that threat will be key to the outcome. Both sides know each other well, so I'm looking forward to another great battle.

Who will come on top between Limerick and Cork?
It will be a draw!

Do you see Limerick and Cork meeting later in the year?

Limerick and Cork look to be the two stand-out teams so there's always a possibility they'll cross paths again. Let's focus on Sunday  first!

TJ Ryan (Former Limerick hurler)

Do you see John Kiely making any changes to the Limerick starting XV?

“YES. John usually changes things depending on availability and opposition. Great to see A couple of guys get game time coming on against Waterford and a positive vibe on stalwarts Declan Hannon and Peter Casey. Different strokes for different folks.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF THE MUSNTER SHC SO FAR?

The Munster hurling championship is the envy of all competitions. Cross border rivalry and only three teams to get out always makes this exciting. The quality is as good as ever, the players conditioning and team preparation is just incredible. 2025 is no different. Plenty of goals, surprise results, sending offs, big leads, late drama, full houses, crazy fans and hot weather, it's what we want in sport. Only negative for me is that it's all happening very quick.

What kind of game are you expecting on Sunday?

A close encounter. For me, the best two teams right now, and first and second favourite for the All-Ireland. I have predicted the trilogy with this Sunday being game number one. It's not a must-win for either side, but we don’t want to lose three-in-a-row to them in the championship. It will be physical and very tight tactically early on. Numbers six and eleven are the lock and the key on both sides. The fastest field sport in the world might just get faster this weekend!

Who will come on top between Limerick and Cork?

Going to go for the draw here. Like I said, the bigger battles are down the road. I need to see the starting teams too.

Do you see Limerick and Cork meeting later in the year?

Yes

Mike McMahon (Newcastle West hurler)

Do you see John Kiely making any changes to the Limerick starting XV?

“I DON'T think he will make any changes, Limerick performed well enough in Waterford when they had to and looked in control of that game even when Waterford got close to them. I think he’ll stick with the same XV. Every game in Munster from now on could potentially end their season, so the stakes are high. I think he’ll go with his strongest XV. Darragh O’Donovan could potentially come into midfield and Will O'Donoghue to centre back, maybe to move Kyle Hayes to the wing, but that’s all I could possibly see happening.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF THE MUSNTER SHC SO FAR?

The championship so far has done what the Munster championship does, it keeps you guessing and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first day with the two draws that nobody could have called. Clare doing what they did in the second half against Cork and then going to Waterford and getting turned over and now potentially we could have the All-Ireland champions not even getting out of Munster. I’ve no doubt there will be a few more twists and turns before the top three are decided. It’s been box office stuff.

What kind of game are you expecting on Sunday?

I believe it’s close to a sell-out if not actually sold out already, so that’s going to add to the heat and pressure that the players will feel. I expect the opening 10 minutes to be hotly-contested and I hope the referee uses a common sense approach. It’s a given that there’s going to be exchanges before the ball is even out of the referee's pocket. Once it settles down I feel whatever team makes the least amount of mistakes in their short passing game will come out on top. The teams are very similar in their approach with both mixing up short passing and delivering long ball when the need arises. It could very well end up level again at full-time!

Who will come on top between Limerick and Cork?

Limerick have been questioned in certain quarters and by certain media outlets and I’m sure that on Sunday they’ll want to prove that they’re the only show in town. Home advantage in Munster is huge so I expect Limerick to edge it. I’m saying Limerick by two!

Do you see Limerick and Cork meeting later in the year?

Yes is the short answer to this one! I absolutely expect both teams to get out of Munster and meet again, it seems inevitable. It just depends what stage they meet at. It would make for an incredible All-Ireland final, but I'm sure there are other teams in Leinster and even Munster will have plenty to say about that. But yes I expect them to meet again.

Adrian O'Sullivan (Cork camogie coach)

Do you see John Kiely making any changes to the Limerick starting XV?

“YOU'D have to imagine John will be very happy with the way the game went down in Waterford, so I don't expect much change. He probably has a choice to make between Coughlan and Byrnes at wing back and another two weeks training under the belt might put Darragh O'Donovan in the mix, but I'd be expecting a fairly similar line up to the last day.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF THE MUSNTER SHC SO FAR?

Excellent championship so far. The round robin format has never failed to deliver. Tipp wouldn't have been in too many peoples' Top 3 before it started so that has really shaken things up and I don't think too many people would have backed Clare to not make it out of the group as All-Ireland champions either. Plenty of hurling to be played still also, so looking forward to the rest of it.

What kind of game are you expecting on Sunday?

Looking back over the past few years, Limerick v Cork games have nearly always been shoot-outs and more often than not finish with no more than a score or two between the sides, the exception being the 2021 final. Cork have been free-scoring since the start of the league and the Limerick forward unit looked like it was really starting to click again against Waterford. So I'd be expecting a similar tussle on Sunday.

Who will come on top between Limerick and Cork?

The 2025 form book would suggest a Cork win and they will have taken great confidence from winning in Croker last year. But I think the Waterford game has given us great confidence. At times it felt like prime Limerick in full flow. Expecting a huge home following as well. I'd fancy Limerick in our own back yard to edge it.

Do you see Limerick and Cork meeting later in the year?

Limerick and Cork will meet again outside of Munster and whatever stage of the competition it's at, that will be the game that will decide the destination of Liam MacCarthy Cup for 2025