John Horgan on hurling: How important is Limerick v Cork on Saturday night?

Could we be heading for a trilogy of Cork and Limerick clashes over the coming number of weeks?

Two are already pencilled in, Saturday night's collision in round five of the NHL at the Gaelic Grounds and the Munster SHC showdown at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, April 26.

In between those two eagerly encounters, could the two counties have an engagement in the final of the secondary competition? Cork are as good as being in that final, the opportunity to retain their title and there is a decent chance that John Kiely's men will be their opponents.

With two rounds still remaining in the Division 1A schedule, we might be jumping the gun a small bit but the aforementioned trilogy is still very much on the cards.

We could have gone further and stated that a quartet of meetings could come to pass over the next few months, the three that are already mentioned and another get-together in a Munster final. That's pushing it a bit, of course, but let's see how it all sorts itself out, starting with instalment number one.

The state of play at the moment has Cork top of the pile with eight points from their four games with Limerick two behind on six. Four counties are on four points, Galway, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford.

Those four are still in the chase for a place in the decider which will keep the pot boiling for them. The picture will become much clearer after the weekend with the Cork and Limerick clash, Galway hosting Kilkenny and Waterford taking on Tipperary.

DROP ZONE

Offaly have a free weekend but their fate has already been sealed, a retun to Division 1B with Clare taking their place in the top division.

So, to Limerick and Cork on Saturday night on the Ennis Road where a huge attendance is expected.

On a wretched Sunday in Nowlan Park, there were over 14,000 present for Cork's visit. 

It's becoming the norm now, whether they are at home or away this bunch of Rebel players are going to have the turnstiles on full throttle.

Cork and Limerick have developed an enormous rivalry over the past number of years and in fact it's fair to suggest that it's hurling's biggest rivalry at this point. Their more recent clashes in both league and championship are well documented and when they collide there is no outright favourite.

In the pecking order of All-Ireland contenders, they are the leading two despite the fact that Tipperary are the defending champions.

The consensus seems to be that one of those three Munster counties will end up with the MacCarthy Cup in July but that's not here nor there now. They said that in 2025 too and it didn't happen.

Limerick and Cork would probably be level on eight points apiece now on the league table if it wasn't for Limerick's rather surprising loss to Waterford, just seven days after the Déise had been thumped by Cork.

But that's the league in the early months of the season, that element of uncertainty is attached to most games. While a county might be in scintillating form one week, a week later with injuries, wholesale changes to the starting 15 and so on, they could end up being second best.

Cork's consistency over the past number of weeks has been very admirable, four wins from four, two of those on grounds that are perceived to be difficult for visiting teams to get anything from, Pearse Stadium in Galway and Nowlan Park in Kilkenny.

Ben O'Connor's stated objective at the outset was that his players would be wanting to win every game that they play. Therefore the current 100% record will want to be maintained and, if it is, it should be six wins from six with the final group outing at home to Offaly.

Limerick took care of their latest bit of business against Offaly last Sunday, a game that they were always expected to win with due respect to an Offaly team that are without some key players.

There might have been an expectation that John Kiely would be in more experimental mode for that game but it was one of strength and depth throughout the field. Limerick, by all accounts, didn't reach any great heights in the game but there was never much doubt about the outcome.

Kyle Hayes was in the number six jersey for the game, taking over from William O'Donoghue and the debate will continue regarding who gets it for the championship.

Declan Hannon, in that position, was always going to be a hard act to follow but Kiely is not short of options.

Cork and Limerick are perceived to be carrying the strongest squads in the game and it's difficult to argue on that score.

Selecting the teams from both counties that will be starting in the championship remains a very difficult task but when it comes down to it the likelihood is that both Kiely and Ben O'Connor will be putting their reliance on their more experienced operators.

OPTIONS

But both will be ruthless too if the need arises and we have witnessed in both counties plenty of newcomers putting their hands up.

A couple of them showed up well for Cork in testing conditions in Nowlan Park, younger guns like goalkeeper Paudie O'Sullivan, Barry Walsh and Hugh O'Connor.

Sub Alan Walsh came in to fire home a great goal to go alongside the one that the young Killeagh man delivered. Neither are likely to start in the championship opener but the confidence gained and the goals they scored will be of great benefit.

This Cork squad was tested in the physical stakes last Sunday and previously against Galway in Salthill and on both occasions were not found wanting.

The management will want that greater edge in their play to continue.

There is always that bit of speculation attached to a league game when two counties that have bigger assignments ahead of them in the championship are involved.

Do they produce their full deck of cards in the secondary competition or could there be a bit of holding back? Will one or the other want to put down an early marker?

However, we are talking about Limerick and Cork here, neither anxious to give the other anything, whatever awaits further down the line.

Cork are building up a significant momentum base in this league campaign and when you have a massive following in the stands and on the terraces, that has to be another major energiser.

With competition for places so intense on both teams and no player wanting to give an inch, we could have another Cork and Limerick cracker on our hands here.

Kiely won't have forgotten last season's Munster final loss even if it was only on penalties and that will be a motivating factor. But Cork have great momentum, have won two big games away and there's no reason why they can't continue their winning sequence.

With Limerick though, it won't be easy, it never is.