Cork head to Limerick with confidence

GAA: Limerick v CorkCORK HAVE a definite edge going into this evening's Munster under-21 hurling final against Limerick – not just because of their sensational semi-final win over reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary.

It’s Limerick’s first appearance in the final since they last won it, beating Tipperary back in 2002, and while the do have home advantage in the Gaelic Grounds, they’re meeting a Cork team still oozing confidence after last month’s victory over Tipperary.

“It was hugely important for us to beat Tipp,” says captain William Egan. “We had lost two years in a row and there was huge pressure on us after the seniors were beaten.

“People were saying Cork hurling was dead and buried and it was vital we won for Cork hurling. Tipp were All-Ireland champions and we had to go to Thurles on a Friday night and beat them and we did. To win the title now would be massive for Cork hurling, after the year we have had and all the negativity. We have not won the title since 2007 and people have been saying Cork hurling is in trouble but a win against Limerick in front of a big crowd would be a massive boost to Cork hurling.

“The season for the seniors was really hugely disappointing. The biggest kick in the teeth was the fact we played well against Tipp but then got progressively worse as the season went on which was hard to figure out.

“Losing to Galway was bad enough, but seeing what Waterford did to Galway when they hammered them made that loss and the season even worse when you look back on it now.”

Cork manager Ger Fitzgerald has named Damien Cahalane at full back, after he replaced Eddie Finn during the semi-final victory over Tipperary.

Limerick manager Leo O’Connor has made one change from the semi-final win over Clare, as Graham Mulcahy replaces Willie Griffin at left corner forward. Team captain is Kevin Downes, with Declan Hannon, scorer of 11 points in the All-Ireland qualifier against Dublin, named at centre forward.

These sides last met in 2003 when Cork beat Limerick at the semi-final stage, ending their hopes of securing their fourth Munster title in a row. The match is live on TG4 (7.30pm) and the winners progress to meet Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final on August 20th.

LIMERICK: A Murphy; A Dempsey, P Begley, S O'Reilly; C McNamara, C Hayes, J O'Callaghan; S O'Brien, C Allis; N Kennedy, D Hannon, S Dowling; M Ryan, K Downes, G Mulcahy.

CORK: D McCarthy; C Joyce, D Cahalane, S Corry; J Nagle, W Egan, M Ellis; S O'Farrell, D Roche; D Brosnan, C Lehane, A Walsh; L O'Farrell, M O'Sullivan, J Coughlan.