Anthony Daly: That special electricity is back in the Páirc. Cork and Limerick will spark it
Cork and Limerick can't help but produce epic games when they face off. The game feels even more appealing when it's being played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
We only played one Munster final with Clare in the old Páirc Uí Chaoimh but it was so magical that we often still talk about it as one of our greatest days in a saffron and blue jersey.
It wasn’t just because we beat Tipperary in the 1997 Munster final – it was as much about the incredible atmosphere and undercurrent of electricity that lit up the Páirc that day into a fireball of giddy excitement. It was pure magic.
When the stadium was redeveloped after the 2014 Munster final between Cork and Limerick, we all wondered if it would lose some of that atmosphere when they tore the old place down. It was a concern when they were building a new stadium on the same site but, in fairness to the planners and the architects, they did manage to preserve the old atmosphere.
The excitement of the matches obviously generates that electricity but it was never more evident two years ago when Cork and Limerick produced one of the most special hurling games ever played. The place was voltaic that night. It wasn’t as highly-charged when the sides met in the Páirc six weeks ago. It was only a second round, but it was still electric.
These teams can’t help themselves from producing epics but it does feel even more special, and more appealing, when it’s on in Páirc Uí Chaoimh now.
Last year was one of the greatest Munster finals and we’re all hoping now that this will be just as good, if not even better. That might sound a ludicrous demand but it’s not when these two sides are involved.
I think there is more mystique and interest around it all now because of how Cork have got on top of this relationship in recent years, having beaten Limerick in four of their last five championship meetings. A fifth victory now, especially in this setting, would really alter the dynamic of the relationship.
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Limerick’s desperation not to allow that to happen has added to the fascination, especially when the dominant narrative throughout this championship has been how far ahead Cork and Limerick appear to be of the chasing pack.
The rivalry has gone to a new stratosphere and there certainly won’t be any holding back here. Limerick were sickened to lose in their own backyard to Cork in last year’s final but it was even more gut-wrenching they denied them an incredible seven-in-a-row. It’s outlandish to think that a team could hoover up that many titles in the modern era but, a year on, John Kiely’s men are seeking that seventh crown in eight seasons. Incredible.
Limerick are as ravenous as ever for more while Cork are just as voracious in their pursuit to stay ahead of Limerick now that they can still feel the steam from their hot breath on their necks.
Cork have replaced flair and flamboyance with functionality but I still think they are missing something as a result. On the other hand, Limerick are still as consistent and solid as ever. And in this type of game, where there is so much on the line, I’d prefer that pattern of predictability from Limerick.
Ben O’Connor has brought more steel and conviction to certain aspects of Cork’s play but this is a whole different test of those credentials. Of course, Cork have done it plenty of times before against Limerick but I just think they are more vulnerable when they haven’t been as free-flowing and high scoring. Because Limerick will more than match that steel and doggedness. They’ll bring absolute war.
Cork did well in restricting the space in front of the Limerick full-forward line after the opening 20 minutes of the match in April but Aaron Gillane wasn’t there that afternoon. Gillane presents a totally different type of challenge to a full-back line so I wouldn’t be surprised if Cork drop a man even deeper in front of him now. That task will probably fall to Robert Downey, which puts even more of an onus on the rest of the Cork defence and midfield to keep an eye on Cian Lynch.
Limerick will face just as big a question at the other end with Shane Barrett. I watched the Cork-Clare match back during the week and it was clear how big of a loss Ryan Taylor was for Clare when he wasn’t there to track Barrett. Limerick are perfectly used to dealing with that tactic but I’m not sure if Cork are as primed to cope in the same way with Lynch.
I expect Damien Cahalane to mark Gillane but he will still need more help. Limerick’s biggest issue then is to supply enough ball into the big Patrickswell man. If I have been critical of Limerick over the years, it’s that they don’t get enough ball into Gillane. I expect that supply to be far more plentiful here.
Darragh Fitzgibbon is a huge loss, while home advantage is certainly worth a few points to Cork, but Kiely’s men have a tendency too to blitz teams and then take their foot off the gas and let the opposition back into the match. Doing so here could prove to be even more costly than usual in front of a passionate home crowd. No matter what they say about it being 50-50, Cork will still have snapped up the majority of tickets. I just fancy Limerick to win by about 3-4 points.
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