Anthony Daly: Cork v Limerick may only be March, but the rivalry never does friendlies

Cork and Limerick headline a fascinating hurling league weekend with huge clashes also looming for Galway, Kilkenny, Tipp and Waterford

HEAD TO HEAD: The faceguards on the helmets of Barry Murphy of Limerick and Alan Connolly of Cork tangle as they tussle during the 2025 Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Cork and Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 

When I said on the Irish Examiner podcast earlier in the week that this evening’s Cork-Limerick match could be the first of five potential meetings this year, I probably said it without fully thinking it through either. It could happen. It very well may happen if both teams keep going as well as they are. But will it? If it doesn’t, I’d say the one place Cork and Limerick may not meet is the league final.

That might sound ludicrous with Cork showing no signs of taking their foot off the gas, and when a league final would be perfect preparation for Limerick when they don’t play on the opening weekend of the championship. I’m just not sure though, that Limerick really want to meet Cork in a league final three weeks before they meet them in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.