It will go down as one of the most agonising defeats in modern Limerick hurling history. Before a roaring, packed crowd of 43,580 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, John Kiely’s side saw their quest for an unprecedented seventh consecutive Munster Senior Hurling title fall just short at the final, cruelest hurdle on June 7, 2025.
Ahead of the 2026 installment of this fabled rivalry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on the banks of the Lee at 2pm on Sunday, June 7 - we look back at the epic 2025 final.
In what was the first-ever provincial hurling final to be decided by a penalty shootout, Cork held their nerve to win 3-2 after a breathless, unrelenting 90 minutes of warfare ended level.
Having suffered a massive 16-point defeat to Limerick earlier in the round-robin phase, a highly motivated Cork side took advantage of a strong first-half breeze. Powered by a Shane Barrett goal, the Rebels went into the break leading 1-14 to 1-10.
True to form, the Shannonsiders rallied with a trademark, ferociously intense second-half display. A vital goal from Shane O'Brien ignited the home support, and the old rivals proceeded to trade blows in a frantic encounter that saw the sides level an astonishing 15 times.
The drama reached a fever pitch in extra time. In a bizarre turn of events, referee Thomas Walsh had to retire from the pitch with severe cramp after 73 minutes, requiring linesman James Owens to take the whistle.
With virtually the final puck of extra time, Cork's Man of the Match Darragh Fitzgibbon slotted a pressure-cooker '65 to lock the scores at 2-27 to 1-30, sending the Munster showpiece into an uncharted penalty shootout - which the Rebels won 3-2 as they ended an eight-year gap for a Munster senior hurling title.
The 2026 Munster Final of Cork v Limerick will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 from 1.15pm and follow limerickleader.ie for all the build-up, social shots, reaction and analysis of the game.
13. 7 June 2025; Limerick players, from left, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash, Seán Finn, Colin Coughlan and Mike Casey, with Limerick GAA secretary Mike ORiordan, third from right, during the penalty shoot-out of the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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14. 7 June 2025; Limerick players, from left, Colin Coughlan, Mike Casey, Cian Lynch, Limerick selector Alan Cunningham, Gearóid Hegarty, Peter Casey, Adam English and David Reidy during the penalty shoot-out of the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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15. 7 June 2025; Brian Hayes of Cork celebrates with supporters after victory in the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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16. 7 June 2025; Kyle Hayes of Limerick in action against Brian Hayes of Cork during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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