Five crucial match-ups between Limerick and Cork in Munster senior hurling final

LEADER Sport takes a look at some of the crucial match-ups between Limerick and Cork in the Munster senior hurling final on Saturday evening in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

Aaron Gillane v Eoin Downey 

Limerick sharpshooter Aaron Gillane has been in outstanding form throughout the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.
Gillane has proven lethal in front of goal, tallying an impressive 2-23 across three games in the competition.

Manager John Kiely has made one adjustment to the team that started against Cork in the round-robin stage, with Aidan O'Connor coming in for Shane O'Brien at full-forward.

On the defensive side, it appears that Pat Ryan could decide to deploy Eoin Downey in a man marking role against Gillane. Meanwhile, Sean O'Donoghue could follow Limerick corner-forward David Reidy further out the field, which in turn would likely see Damien Cahalane tasked with picking up Ballybrown’s Aidan O'Connor.

Cian Lynch v Cormac O'Brien 

In an interview with the Limerick Leader this week, former Cork manager John Meyler described Cian Lynch as the player who makes this Limerick team tick. Lynch has been in sparkling form throughout the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.

Cormac O'Brien has been drafted into the Cork side to replace the injured Rob Downey.

Looking ahead to the match-ups, Ciaran Joyce may be tasked with picking up Gearoid Hegarty, while O'Brien could find himself shadowing Cian Lynch. Meanwhile, Mark Coleman is likely to look for opportunities to influence the game offensively, which could see him going head-to-head with Tom Morrissey over the course of the contest.

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Midfield battle 

Adam English has injected tremendous energy into the Limerick midfield this season. It has already been a standout year for the Doon clubman, who has captured a county title with his club, lifted the Fitzgibbon Cup with UL, and will now be aiming to add a Munster Championship medal to his growing collection.

English and Darragh Fitzgibbon are set for an intriguing battle in the middle third, where their influence could prove decisive. Additionally, Cork's Tim O'Mahony and Limerick's William O'Donoghue will both play pivotal roles in shaping their respective teams’ fortunes on Saturday.

Kyle Hayes v Shane Barrett

2024 All-Star Kyle Hayes was a driving force in Limerick’s round-robin victory over Cork, with his performance proving crucial in shutting down Cork’s attacking threats and reinforcing the Limerick defence.

The Kildimo-Pallaskenry man is expected to be tasked with containing Cork’s pacey forward Shane Barrett. Elsewhere, Diarmaid Byrnes and Seamus Harnedy are set to renew their fierce rivalry in what promises to be another titanic contest.

Meanwhile, Barry Nash who has been outstanding in Limerick’s half-back line will aim to curb the influence of Diarmuid Healy on Saturday, as both sides look to gain the upper hand in the key battles across the pitch.

Dan Morrissey v Brian Hayes

Limerick’s Dan Morrissey, Sean Finn, and Mike Casey have brought relentless intensity in their side's full back line. 

Dan Morrissey, in particular, has epitomised consistency for the Munster champions in recent seasons. The Ahane clubman has looked composed in the number three jersey, but he will face a stern test from Cork’s in-form marksman Brian Hayes.

Elsewhere, Mike Casey is expected to be assigned to Alan Connolly, while Sean Finn of Bruff will likely have the task of monitoring the experienced Patrick Horgan