The Echo Sport Podcast: Cork hurlers are giving us the best days of our lives

The Cork hurlers two from two to start the round robin series for the first time since its inception in 2018 and the footballers into a first Munster final in five years... a good weekend's work.

The Echo Sport Podcast crew break down the action from Thurles and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and access the state of play with time to take a breath before the action resumes after the May Bank Holiday. 

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is 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.

On the hurling front, Cork emptied the tank to pull off a victory against Limerick, who, despite losing Aaron Gillane to a training-ground injury and Cian Lynch to a second-half red card, came very close to winning on Leeside. For the hosts, it's now 11 games in league and championship without defeat since two years ago when going under to Clare left them on the brink.

It's been an incredible run, as Man of the Match and captain Darragh Fitzgibbon told RTE: "It’s just unbelievable here, these are the best days of our lives.”

Now look we all know it's an All-Ireland we crave but that shouldn't take from the effort this group of players are putting in to try and end the famine. They had a ropey start on Sunday and didn't manage the last quarter as effectively as we'd have liked with an extra man but Limerick haven't hoovered up 15 major trophies in nine years for nothing.

They remain a phenomenal outfit but Cork are in an extremely strong position to make it into the All-Ireland series with plenty to work on as well. 

Injuries to Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey are a concern, the puck-outs remain a work in progress and some of the younger guns are still learning. But there are no shortage of positives either, with the goal threat to the fore once more and huge leadership being shown by the more experienced hurlers. 

On the football front, Cork got going after a sluggish opening half at sun-sorched Semple Stadium before powering to a 15-point victory over Tipp. Being able to call on Ruairí Deane, Colm O'Callaghan and Brian Hurley from the bench highlighted the gulf in class between the sides but Cork are as well set as they've been in a while to rattle Kerry in Killarney.

Getting a first win in Fitzgerald Stadium in 31 years will be another sceál of course but there's big interest in the game and John Cleary's charges deserve massive support. Look what difference it makes to the hurlers...