Shane Barrett: Cork hurlers are the best-followed team in the country of any sport

Demand for Sunday week’s Munster hurling final with Limerick will far outstrip supply.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Shane Barrett praised the Cork fn Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Shane Barrett has lauded the strength of Cork’s support ahead of their first home Munster final in 14 years.

Demand for Sunday week’s showdown with Limerick will far outstrip supply, but the Blarney man knows how resourceful the team’s following can be.

“They're incredible,” said Barrett. “We say it all the time inside our own circle. And, obviously, from the external, they know how important they are. We know how important they are.

“We're the best-followed team in the country of any sport. We sell out everywhere we go. And we have 25,000-plus in league games, which is unheard of in the last few years. So, they're brilliant. And, yeah, tickets now for two weeks' time will be interesting, I'd say.”

Across championship and league, Cork on Sunday extended their unbeaten record in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh to 12 games (11 wins, one league draw v Limerick). A run that started with that dramatic win over Limerick in May 2024 and one they obviously want to keep going on June 7.

“We've had a good record here in Páirc Uí Chaoimh the last two years,” Barrett highlighted. “So, every time we play here we want to protect that record and make it as difficult a place for opposition to come to.

“That was the goal (v Clare) – protect our house, protect our home venue, and thankfully we did that and we finished the four for four.” Accepting his TV man-of-the-match award on Sunday, Barrett paid tributed to team-mate Ciarán Joyce who underwent an operation on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

He is one of three key men Cork have been without in recent games but the winning hasn’t stopped. “I think Ben (O’Connor) and the lads did a great job in the league this year, just bringing fellas along and blooding them into games.

“Like you see, William (Buckley), Barry (Walsh), Hugh (O’Connor) came on (v Clare). All new fellas that didn't play with us last year. There's obviously a few more as well and they're pushing us in training every night, keeping us all on our toes.

“It's obviously important to have the next man up, but, like, we really trust the next man up because we know we're putting in a lot of hard work and training.” Captain Darragh Fitzgibbon was the latest to become unavailable due to a burst appendix but he made his presence felt, Barrett reported. “To be fair to Darragh, he was brilliant around the squad for the week.

“Like, he had the surgery on Saturday and he was back with us Tuesday, Thursday. Like, so that just shows what he is. He's our leader, like, he's our number one.

“He’s brilliant but we've other fellas that step up. Obviously, Mark (Coleman, vice-captain). We've other fellas that have been captain over the years. Rob (Downey), Seán O'Donoghue, (Seamus) Harnedy there, all leaders.” Scoring five points on Sunday, Barrett looked a man on a mission but he dismissed the idea he had a point to prove after being sent off against Clare in Ennis last year.

“I can't say it crept into my mind too much. Obviously, what happened up in Ennis last year was not ideal. But that was last year, you know. I didn't really put much thought in it, really.” Limerick now visit Cork determined to hit back after last year’s penalty shoot-out defeat in TUS Gaelic Grounds. Barrett knows what to expect.

“We've played each other so many times and they are always great games for neutrals, and there are always great games to be part of.

“Two teams that really just want to go at each other and just play on the front foot early and play as well as they can. It just seems to bring out a good game most days.”