The Echo Sport Podcast: How Cork hurlers can beat Limerick in Munster final
Host Éamonn Murphy in The Echo podcast studio. Picture: Chani Anderson
It's back to the scene of the crime on Saturday, when the Cork hurlers must face Limerick in their first Munster final since 2018.
Pat Ryan's side were torn apart in the meeting last month when sweet revenge was exacted for last summer to the tune of 16 points. Cork will hardly be as bad again while Limerick were so tuned in across the first half they fired 2-18 from their 25 first-half shots.
We discuss where Cork can improve as they bid to end the Treaty's provincial dominance, raging favourites for a seventh title in succession. Will the restoration of Darragh Fitzgibbon to midfield and Shane Barrett to centre-forward make a difference?
Can Ciarán Joyce fare better on Cian Lynch than he did three weeks ago? Or would a fully-fit Rob Downey be given the job?
What match-ups will go for across the full-back line? Seán O'Donoghue is surely needed for Aaron Gillane.
Injuries will be a major factor too. And Cork are really struggling with a busy casualty ward.
Limerick had the luxury of resting their marquee men in the last group game. They outmuscled and outsmarted Cork in the last game and it's going to take absolutely everything going right for Downey to pick up the Mick Mackey Cup.
The footballers came up short again in their latest clash with Kerry, the 13th defeat in a row across minor, U20 and senior for the Rebels at the hands of their old foe.
John Cleary's side performed very well in the first half but were undone by their missed goal chances and not helped by some fussy refereeing around the kick-out mark. Those calls gifted Kerry six points straight after half-time.
All is not lost, Cork can beat Roscommon and finish third in the group and reach a preliminary quarter-final.
We also reflect on the controversial situation when Castlehaven were able to utilise Cork players Rory Maguire and Conor Cahalane in a league game six days before the Kerry match.
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
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