Cork v Limerick: Three key battles that will decide the Munster final 

Éamonn Murphy on the major match-ups at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

MAIN MAN: Limerick legend Aaron Gillane is most likely going to be marked by Seán O'Donoghue once more this Sunday. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Dan Morrissey v Brian Hayes

Hayes' form was excellent in the wins over Waterford and Clare and his ability to bring the other forwards into play is crucial for Cork.

He was Man of the Match after clipping 1-4 in the 2024 All-Ireland semi-final but hasn't been as impactful, on the scoreboard at least, in his other championship outings against the Treaty. He's hit 0-2 twice and a point in the other games, though he landed 1-3 in the league final in April.

Dan Morrissey was absent earlier this season and his return gives Limerick a more physical marker to limit Hayes' threat and playmaking.

Aaron Gillane v Seán O'Donoghue

Limerick duo Shane O'Brien and Peter Casey grabbed 0-3 apiece in the group game but the Treaty are a very different animal with the four-time All-Star leading the line.

The Patrickswell man blasted in two brilliant goals in the rout of Tipp and, with 10 green flags raised in their last four games, Limerick have tweaked their approach to add a more potent edge. 

Gillane was unmarkable in the league final, where Seán O'Donoghue and Ger Millerick shared that thankless task. O'Donoghue fared well on him in last year's Munster decider though. 

Cork might pivot and ask Damien Cahalane to tag Gillane but it would be a gamble.

Cian Lynch v Robert Downey

Lynch spent most of this season operating at midfield but, after his suspension for the Clare win, returned to the team at centre-forward. Tim O'Mahony has been designated as Lynch's man-marker in recent meetings but not in last season's Munster final, when he was 11 and tagged by Ciarán Joyce.

Cork could tweak their line-up to put O'Mahony on Lynch again, with the Downeys in the wing-back berths and Mark Coleman at midfield. However, that's a lot of restructuring.

Instead, we expect both teams to get their midfielders to drop deep and cover across the 65s with towering centre-backs Downey and William O'Donoghue protecting the D. 

Lynch has the brilliance to find pockets in what little space is left.