Limerick and Cork renew rivalry in high-stakes Munster Senior Hurling Final

LIMERICK and Cork renew their rivalry this evening in the Munster senior hurling final. The action gets underway at 6pm in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick are chasing a remarkable seventh consecutive Munster Senior Hurling Championship title, while Cork are bidding to win their provincial title since 2018. 

The Shannonsiders cruised to a comprehensive 3-26 to 1-16 victory over Cork during the Munster SHC round-robin series. The Munster SHC final is officially sold out and 43,000 supporters are expected in the Ennis road venue.

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Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely has made one change from his side that defeated Cork three weeks ago in the round-robin series for this weekend's Munster final showdown. 

Ballybrown clubman Aidan O'Connor will start his first game in the Championship for Limerick in the Munster SHC final on Saturday. O'Connor replaces Shane O'Brien on the edge of the square. 

Cork senior hurling manager Pat Ryan has made two changes from the side that defeated Waterford in the final round of Munster SHC round-robin series. Damien Cahalane replaces the injured Ger Millerick in the Cork full back line, while Diarmuid Healy makes his first start of the Munster SHC for 'the rebels'. Brian Roche drops out of the starting XV. 

Declan Dalton misses this Saturday's clash through injury, captain Robert Downey and Niall O'Leary have recovered from their respective injuries to take their place on the bench. 

Limerick: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Sean Finn (Bruff), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh) ; Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Barry Nash (South Liberties); William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Adam English (Doon); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick's), Cian Lynch (Captain, Patrickswell), Tom Morrissey (Ahane) ; Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)

Subs: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Declan Hannon (Adare), Barry Murphy (Doon), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Darragh O'Donovan (Doon), Paddy O'Donovan (Effin), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister).  

CORK: Patrick Collins; Damien Cahalane, Eoin Downey, Sean O'Donoghue; Cormac O'Brien, Ciaran Joyce, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes. 

SUBS: Brian Saunderson, Niall O'Leary, Robert Downey, Tommy O'Connell, Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Jack O'Connor, Robbie O'Flynn, Brian Roche. 

Waterford native Thomas Walsh will referee Saturday's Munster Senior Hurling Championship final between Limerick and Cork. Walsh has refereed two of Limerick's games in the Munster SHC against Tipperary and Clare this year. 

The winners of Saturday's clash will advance to the All-Ireland semi-final on July 5, while the losers will enter the All-Ireland series at the quarter-final stage on June 22.