The Echo Sport Podcast: Cork v Tipp league final preview as footballers head to Limerick

It's a massive weekend in Cork GAA with the hurlers hosting Tipperary in a sold-out league final.

SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be packed but was it the right call to make it a double-header with Offaly v Waterford in Division 1B, given the interest in the Faithful County? Home advantage might help the Rebels on the pitch come Sunday but it hasn't proved much use in terms of securing tickets.

It's hard to be overly critical of GAA for putting the Páirc in the spotlight in a contest that will generate an electric atmosphere but that's scant consolation to the fans who won't get to go. The Munster Championship matches also go on sale this week and all four games with Cork will most likely sell, out. Stand tickets are being distributed through the clubs but interest is at its highest since the mid-noughties.

We preview the final and make the case for Cork bridging a long gap since their last league success in 1998. 

At the very minimum we expect a better performance than the five finals they've reached since 2002 when they never looked like collecting the cup for the first time since Diarmuid O'Sullivan held it aloft.

Tipp were the only county to defeat Cork in the group phase and won't have any fear of Pat Ryan's side given their own excellent form this spring.

HARSH

We also discuss the minor and U20 action last week and how regularly red cards are now being flashed for what looks like minimal contact, which saw Barry O'Flynn and Ben Walsh dismissed against Clare.

The footballers are in championship action on Saturday, heading to Limerick to face Division 4 league winners Limerick who will relish the underdogs tag. Cork ended their league with a decent bit of momentum though and should have enough to set up a Munster semi-final in the Páirc on Easter Saturday with Division 1 champs Kerry.

We look at the U20 football squad ahead of their provincial opener and round up the latest in the league after three games across the seven divisions.

Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team including Barry O'Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast