Patrick Horgan: Limerick and Cork have good reasons to go hard and go smart

Cork’s approach will be interesting, because it’ll show how they want to counteract Limerick. If they play three up, for instance, they’ll be trying to isolate the Limerick defenders rather than allowing them to back each other up and overlap

TUSSLE: Limerick’s Mike Casey and Brian Hayes of Cork grapple for possession in last year's Munster SHC final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho

Three-quarters of an hour after the Kilkenny-Cork game finished last Sunday in Nowlan Park, there were Cork players still out on the field signing autographs and taking selfies for the travelling supporters. That’s some going for an away game.

And that registers with the players. They love having that huge following, and they certainly don’t take it for granted.