As it happened: Limerick v Cork, Munster hurling final, live minute-by-minute updates
BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED: Limerick's Cian Lynch. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Thanks for your company throughout that epic - we'll have reaction and analysis from Limerick throughout the rest of the evening and tomorrow on Examiner Sport. I'm going for a lie down in a dark room.
Here's the view of some fans, thanks to Tom Clancy:
Rob Downey accepts the Mick Mackey Cup in front of what looks like thousands of Cork fans singing Freed From Desire.
Limerick's incredible run of provincial titles comes to an end in the most dramatic of circumstances in their own backyard.
Pat Ryan's men get their hands on more silverware and will look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final. The Gaelic Grounds PA operator drops the needle on After All and the Cork crowd rush the field.
Declan Hannon misses and Cork are Munster champions!
Alan Connolly with the penalty of the shootout.
Collins saves from Tom Morrissey!
Shane Kingston goes through Quaid. All square after three each.
Barry Murohy drags his effort to the right and wide!
Conor Lehane gets Cork on the board.
Limerick 2 Cork 0 Aaron Gillane nails his penalty.
Nickie Quaid saves from Darragh Fitzgibbon!
Diarmuid Byrnes takes the first penalty... and buries it!
John Kiely is in the middle of a wide Limerick huddle giving some last-minute words of encouragement. Cork keeper Patrick Collins has his helmet off and looks relaxed. We're ready to go for this historic shootout.
"Into the Cork goal, the teams will shoot. Byrnes on the field, Horgan not. Could that be crucial?"
Joanne Cantwell reminds us of the set-up: Five penalties on each side, sudden death if needed after that with the same five takers.
Saturday evening and penalties for a Munster SHC final. It's a new world. JF
Fitzgibbon levels it up under huge pressure.
What drama! Darragh Fitzgibbon drops in a free, Quaid fumbles it slightly and it goes behind for a 65.
A shot to take it to penalties.
Gillane nails the free! Limerick one up.
Cahalane gives away a free! Gillane limps towards it.
Cathal O'Neill levels it. My Apple watch is sending me stress level warnings. We've a minute of added time.
A fresh Shane Kingston is making hay now - he puts Cork ahead again.
"Six extra-time wides for Limerick. Self-inflicted wounds. Fatigue so obvious in their shooting."
We're level again thanks to a Tommy O'Connell effort.
Cian Lynch checks inside and finds Shane O'Brien and he scores. Moments later Peter Casey adds another.
Conor Lehane makes it two on the trot for the Rebels and they go ahead.
Sides level again after an under-pressure Shane Kingston manages to lob one over.
Damian Cahalane is booked for a pull down and Gillane scores the free. One between them.
Here we go again.
Aaron Gillane levels the game once more with a free that just snuck in. It's the last action of the first half of extra time.
Conor Lehane puts Cork ahead.
"Lehane is making some impact now. Cork one ahead against the wind."
Fitzgibbon makes no mistake from a free and then Shane Kingston creates and scores a great point to level it.
"Robbie O'Flynn now with the bench impact. Fouled for Cork's extra-time opener, assists for Kingston for their second."
Barry Nash is booked after he makes contact with Tommy O'Connell's helmet.
Darragh Fitzgibbon hits Cork's 17th wide of the evening.
There's something you don't see every day. The referee Thomas Walsh is on his back with Adam English helping him with cramp. It looks like James Owens will step in for the rest of this game.
Interesting insight from Eoghan: "Applause from the Limerick management as the fallen Walsh departs, not a single clap from the Cork sideline."
Aaron Gillane darts over a point. For Cork, Niall O'Leary is on for Sean O'Donoghue.
"Instant impact from Hannon. Following his point, his is the delivery to the fouled Gillane as Limerick race two clear."
Declan Hannon introduces himself with a first touch and point.
Cork took their time but here we go!
"The Cork management out well before the players for extra-time. Taking the lead in the team talk, it would seem.
Limerick win the toss. Will play with wind in the first 10 minutes."
Our own TJ Ryan is chatting to Damien Lawlor on the sideline: "Everything you want to see in a Munster final," he says of what we've seen so far. "Don't rule penalties out."
On that note, Maurice writes: "Noticeable surprise in the stand as the stadium announcer confirms the game will go to penalties if still level after extra-time. Someone has stuck their head in the press box in a desperate search too: "Has anyone a whistle in there?"
Declan Hannon is on, Eoghan informs us. "Just his second championship involvement of 2025."
Cork 55% conversion in normal time. Some of those misses will haunt them if they don't turn this come through these two 10-minute periods. That game was there for them.
Donal Óg admits this game has had its imperfections but praises the intensity from the teams, while Henry Shefflin says it's been a privilege to witness this battle.
:We go to extra time in the Munster hurling final!
"There was an inevitability of extra-time there. Two teams not playing at their optimum and appropriately it was misses at the end that sent it into two extra periods of 10 minutes."
Aaron Gillane draws a late, late free wide and we've seconds left with the sides level.
Patrick Horgan levels it!
He gives away a free moments later with a couple of minutes to go.
"Forgive the simple analysis but Ciarán Joyce has been colossus in this second period for Cork. Just so good."
Robbie O'Flynn has a go from midfield but it drops wide.
Darragh O'Donovan puts Limerick ahead and we'll have four minutes of added time.
For the first time since the 26th minutes, Limerick hit the front.
Diarmuid Healy nails a superb free from the sideline and Gearoid Hegarty replies once more for the hosts. This is in the melting pot now.
"Make that six." Eoghan writes of the sides going level. "But still no overtaking movement."
Seamus Harnedy is replaced by Robbie O'Flynn. Earlier, Darragh O'Donovan came on for William O'Donoghue.
Eoin Downey gets up the pitch to score his first point in the championship before Gillane replies.
"That's five times now in the second-half Limerick have pulled up level alongside Cork. But crucially, yet to lead in the second period."
Darragh Fitzgibbon, who looks not to be feeling the effects of that injury, whips over a lovely point.
Rob Downey's pinged for a pull and Gillane scores the free.
We're level again after Gillane slots a free.
Limerick's turn to be feel aggrieved. Cian Lynch banged into the back and no free.
Brian Hayes gets out to collect a ball inside, jinks and points - just about.
"Limerick, with the wind, aren't creating enough of those two-on-two situations inside, as was the case there for Shane O'Brien's point. First-time delivery from Adam English to set the attack in motion. There's far more change to be got from this approach."
Rob Downey is introduced in place of Cormac O'Brien while Shane O'Brien adds a point for Limerick.
Peter Casey's on for the Treaty.
"Limerick, with the wind, aren't creating enough of those two-on-two situations inside, as was the case there for Shane O'Brien's point. First-time delivery from Adam English to set the attack in motion. There's far more change to be got from this approach"
"Aaron Gillane back on his own 20-metre line applauding the defensive work of his teammates."
Sean O'Donoghue is booked for taking the hurley off Aaron Gillane and throwing it off the pitch. As the D’Unbelievables said: you can't do that.
Patrick Horgan nails a free in the meantime; Cork in front.
"Does anybody have a clue what way the referee is going to call it?"
Aaron Gillane uses his feet to get the ball to O'Brien and he taps it past Collins. The place is rocking now.
Darragh Fitzgibbon is down injured holding his hand and this may be the end of his evening.
GOAL LIMERICK
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025
47mins: LIM 2-13 COR 1-16
Shane O'Brien hammers it home to level the game in the 47th minute.#rtegaa
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"Cork were sleeping for that goal. Hegarty had telegraphed a quick free but they didn't react."
The yellow cards keep coming - Mike Casey this time for a strike on DArragh Fitzgibbon as he skipped through. His shot is saved but the advantage sees Patrick Horgan convert a free.
It's not for the faint-hearted out there now.
"Has someone had a word with Thomas Walsh at the break? Blew for nothing in the opening half, now four yellows doled out (three to Limerick, one to Cork) in the opening 10 minutes of the second period. And some of them for offences which paled into comparison with the assaulting that went unsanctioned in the opening half."
Another yellow card - this time for David Reidy after a late-ish tackle on Patrick Collins. It's gone fairly bitty now. Adam English scores his third of the day.
Things are bubbling up here and the ref is trying to get a grip on things. Cormac O'Brien and Gearoid Hegarty are booked.
"43,580 in TUS Gaelic Grounds"
Sean Finn gets a slap in the face but is pinged for overcarrying, Brian Hayes punches the air and and Patrick Horgan slots the free.
Eoghan writes: "Hayes doing onto Seán Finn what was done to him in the opening half. And Hoggie then rubs salt in wounds by bringing the free way in from where the overcarry took place."
Adam English gets Limerick back to within a score with the first point of the second period.
We've had the half-time Jaffa cakes and we're ready to go. The officials have been talking to the management teams and the sides are out.
A few key tactical questions for the second half. Shane Barrett has 1-3 today. In the last three and a half games between these teams, he has now scored 2-9 from 14 shots. Kyle Hayes wants to sit and pawn him over. Can Limerick continue to do that?
John Fogarty shares what he saw as the half came to an end: Members of management shove and shoulder at the break. Liam Cronin and Wayne Sherlock involved. Cork had reason for grievance with some of the Limerick fouling close to their goal although Limerick didn't win a free until the 17th minute. Limerick's power third quarter expected.
Some scenes here, Ger. The respective backroom staffs surrounded the ref and were keen to have their say after that first period. We saw shots of the likes of Wayne Sherlock and John Kiely man marking each other as the crowd lapped it up. A fitting end to a hectic 35 minutes. Phew!
HT LIM 1-10 COR 1-14
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025
"It's Saturday Night Fever at the Gaelic Grounds..." - both benches unhappy with the officials at the break.#rtegaa
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Eoghan writes: "From 1-6 to 0-8 in arrears on 22 minutes, an important outgunning by Cork of 1-6 to 0-4 in the subsequent 13 minutes."
Limerick 1-10 Cork 1-14
Some questionable tackling at times by the inside Limerick line. Some questionable passing from the Limerick wings too. Cork should be further ahead with frees.
1-3 for Barrett. All from play. Kyle Hayes completely second best. Barrett showing the sort of No.11 form that had him in hurler of the year territory on the eve of last year's All-Ireland final.
Gearoid Hegarty shrugs off Fitzgibbon and clips over brilliantly, up the other end Hayes goes for goal and Barrett points ultimately.
"Three wides for Patrick Horgan, two from play. The three misses dwarf his thus far two-point contribution."
Pat Ryan is fuming on the sideline at the treatment Patrick Horgan is getting from the Limerick defender inside.
"Limerick full-backs living on the edge and so far surviving," Eoghan writes. Horgan misses a free, Barrett hits Cork's ninth wide moments later.
Adam English gets Limerick moving again after more great Cian Lynch work. Barrett adds a point.
"For all his involvement and marauding in front of the Cork goal, that last Limerick white flag represented Adam English's first point. His contribution is so much greater than the single tick now beside his name."
Cork go back in front with the Blarney man sweeping the ball home in traditional style.
"Barret goal. Looked like Horgan and Hayes were fouled in build-up but what a pass to Barrett from Hayes."
GOAL CORK
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025
27mins LIM 1-07 COR 1-09
Shane Barrett's first-time effort finds the back of the net as Cork edge ahead.#rtegaa
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Limerick 1-5 Cork 0-8 Limerick 1-5 Cork 0-9 Tim O'Mahony jinks inside and points to level it. Moments later Brian Hayes gathers a gallop on goal, shoots low but Quaid saves.
"Seán Finn was holding onto Patrick Horgan's hurley on the follow-up to Brian Hayes's shot there. No free given. Mismatch of Casey on Hayes for the ball in from Fitzgibbon."
Third fetch by Cian Lynch. Normally known for weaving his genius on the ground. So aerially prominent over Ciarán Joyce in the opening 20 minutes.
Eoin Downey badly caught for that Aidan O'Connor goal. Goalkeeper didn't help himself either.
GOAL LIMERICK
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025
20mins: LIM 1-05 COR 0-08
The first goal of the game as Aidan O'Connor bats it home.#rtegaa
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18 mins Limerick 0-5 Cork 0-8
No player has had more shots in the last three meetings between these teams than Tom Morrissey and he is on track to continue that record. Two points from four efforts midway through the first half. Limerick's conversion isn't great so far. Four points from nine shots.
Diarmuid Byrnes and Harnedy exchange points as we type.
"Harnedy wins Cork's first long puckout 18 minutes in and points in the process," Eoghan tells us. "Previous three Cork puckouts retained were all short."
Diarmuid Healy learned there that you don't dally against Limerick. Took possession off Harnedy and should have immediately popped over. Instead, took the ball into contact and was stripped. Fortunate for the first-year senior, the play did end with a Shane Barrett point.
Damien Cahalane allows himself a little smile after lofting over an inspirational point from downtown.
Dudsy Healy adds his second off the left in front of the posts. He's at it.
David Reidy moves the hosts within one again and Patrick Horgan draws one wide under pressure.
"Cork are allowing Ciaran Joyce to sit when he can here. For that last Limerick attack, Mark Coleman was in marking Cian Lynch. Interesting to note that Thomas Walsh did not allow Cork get off a fast puckout there and pings Limerick for an illegal handpass" -
Points from Tom Morrissey again and Diarmuid Healy's first.
John Fogarty writes: Morrissey's movement is bamboozling Cork who had started the better. Mike Casey winning plenty of ball in the Limerick full-back line.
Patrick Collins saves superbly from Adam English, Aidan O'Connor makes sure Limerick come away with a point.
Patrick Horgan tacks on a free before Tom Morrissey opens Limerick's account at last.
Eoghan Cormican writes: Cork's inside three of Hoggie, Hayes, and Connolly have rotated twice in the opening five minutes. Limerick defenders not moving with them. Finn, Morrissey, and Casey holding their places.
Seamus Harnedy points from the middle of the pitch after Aaron Gillane is turned over.
Maurice Brosnan writes: Damien Cahalane on David Reidy, Eoin Downey on Aidan O'Connor and Sean O'Donoghue picks up Aaron Gillane.
Eoghan Cormican shares his notebook workings:
Limerick defenders v Cork forwards
Seán Finn on Hoggie
Dan Morrissey on Alan Connolly
Mike Casey on Brian Hayes
Diarmaid Byrnes on Seamus Harnedy
Kyle Hayes on Shane Barrett
Barry Nash on Diarmuid Healy
Limerick have two wides already. Frantic start, as expected.
The ball's throw in and we're up and running!
Patrick Horgan starts as he means to go on with a point from play after half a minute.
The players and supporters are standing for the anthems and we're reminded again how strong that breeze is.
"There is a strong wind blowing towards the City End here. It looks like Cork will play with it for the first half. It's worth remembering they were against it for the Munster round-robin hammering," writes from Limerick.
The teams are parading behind the band in front of a packed house and it's almost showtime.
Again, it appears Cork have won the toss, but this time they are set to play with the wind in the first half into the Town End. John Fogarty
The teams line out as selected, John Fogarty informs us.
P. Collins (Ballinhassig); D. Cahalane (St Finbarrs), E. Downey (Glen Rovers), S. O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); C. O’Brien (Newtownshandrum) C. Joyce (Castlemartyr) M. Coleman (Blarney); T. O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum) D. Fitzgibbon (Charleville); D. Healy (Lisgood), S. Barrett (c, Blarney), S. Harnedy (St Ita’s); P. Horgan (Glen Rovers), A. Connolly (Blackrock), B. Hayes (St Finbarrs). Subs: B. Saunderson (Midleton), N. O’Leary (Castlelyons), R. Downey (Glen Rovers), T. O’Connell (Midleton) E. Twomey (St Finbarrs), L. Meade (Newcestown) C. Lehane (Midleton) S. Kingston (Douglas), J. O’Connor (Sarsfields), R. O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), B. Roche (Bride Rovers).
N. Quaid (Effin); S. Finn (Bruff), D. Morrissey (Ahane), M. Casey (Na Piarsaigh); D. Byrnes (Patrickswell), K. Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), B. Nash (South Liberties); A. English (Doon), W. O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); G. Hegarty (St Patrick’s), C. Lynch (c, Patrickswell), T. Morrissey (Ahane); A. Gillane (Patrickswell), A. O’Connor (Ballybrown), D. Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca). Subs: S. Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), P. Casey (Na Piarsaigh), C. Coughlan (Ballybrown), S. Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), D. Hannon (Adare), B. Murphy (Doon), S. O’Brien (Kilmallock), D. Ó Dalaigh (Monaleen), D. O’Donovan (Doon), P. O’Donovan (Effin), C. O’Neill (Crecora-Manister).
: T. Walsh (Waterford)
Things got dark for Cork in the Gaelic Grounds three weeks ago but can they re-ignite the flame?
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 6, 2025
Watch Limerick v Cork in the Munster SHC final on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer, coverage commencing at 5.15pm pic.twitter.com/SX3jJ53jTx
Tom Clancy spoke to Cork and Limerick supporters about the cost of tickets to the game as they made their way to the ground.
Here are the teams named earlier this week. Some cast.
: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Adam English, Will O’Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Aidan O’Connor, David Reidy.
Subs: Shane Dowling, Peter Casey, Colin Coughlan, Seamus Flanagan, Declan Hannon, Barry Murphy, Shane O’Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Darragh O’Donovan, Patrick O’Donovan, Cathal O’Neill.
: Patrick Collins; Damien Cahalane, Eoin Downey, Seán O’Donoghue; Cormac O’Brien, Ciarán Joyce, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Brion Saunderson, Niall O’Leary, Rob Downey, Tommy O’Connell, Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade, Shane Kingston, Jack O’Connor, Brian Roche, Robbie O’Flynn.
There is no doubting the talent in this Cork dressing room but there are question marks about their resolve now. What’s required might not necessarily be enough to stop Limerick winning seven-in-a-row but Cork need to make a stand for themselves first by fronting up to Limerick. Only then, can they start thinking about winning the game."
Read Anthony Daly's pre-game column here.
Cork are out on the field just after their allotted time. Limerick were supposed to be out first but have just emerged from the dressing room. Nothing like a bit of pre-game suspense.
John Fogarty checks in from the press box:
"Greetings from TUS Gaelic Grounds. Gavin James's "Olé olé olé" attempts not gaining any purchase from the supporters in the Mackey Stand. Both teams have walked the pitch. About 200 Limerick flags dotted around the perimeter of the open stand and terraces as was the case before the round game 20 days ago. In case anyone is in any doubt where the game is being played."
Therese O'Callaghan sends these clips from the Gaelic Grounds.
Liam Sheedy is with his RTÉ colleagues, Henry Shefflin and Donal Óg Cusack, in the stadium dressing-room. Here's how Liam sees this one playing out.
As Dolly Parton said, here you come again. Cork and Limerick renew their rivalry in a much-anticipated Munster final at the Gaelic Grounds this evening.
We'll go puck-by-puck until this one is settled, with input from our team of reporters at the ground.
Limerick and Cork renew their rivalry in the Munster hurling final on Saturday evening (throw-in 6pm). Join us for live, minute-by-minute coverage of the game from 5.30pm.
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