Christy O'Connor: Leinster hurling needs to strike back against idea Limerick and Cork are out in front

When Dublin sensationally beat Limerick in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, it wasn’t just one of Dublin’s greatest victories, and one of the greatest shocks in championship history, it was also a landmark afternoon for Leinster hurling – especially in the context of the recent Munster-Leinster hurling rivalry.

It was Dublin’s first championship win against a side from Munster since defeating Limerick in 2015 but it hadn’t just been a tale of woe for Dublin for most of the intervening years – it has been a similar theme for Leinster hurling.

And yet, despite Dublin firing a huge shot into the sky for Leinster hurling that afternoon, Cork muffled that noise two weeks later when comprehensively beating Dublin in the semi-final. Tipperary furthered quietened the discussion about Munster-Leinster the following day when beating Kilkenny.

It was no surprise. 

As well as Cork-Tipperary being the fourth all-Munster final in six years, all five Munster counties that compete in the Munster championship had contested an All-Ireland final in that time; Limerick-Waterford (2020), Cork-Limerick (2021), Clare-Cork (2024), Cork-Tipperary (2025).

Munster’s dominance has continued to been all encompassing at all levels. Outside of 2021 (when the title was shared) Munster teams have won the last six league titles. Twelve of the last 14 All-Ireland U21/20 titles have been won by Munster counties.

Munster have won the last five All-Ireland minor titles. Four of the last six teams left in this year’s All-Ireland minor championship are from Munster. Last year’s All-Ireland minor final was contested by Clare and Waterford.

The overall numbers don’t make for good reading for Leinster. In the aftermath of Dublin’s win against Kilkenny last Sunday, Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin was asked what it all meant in terms of the Munster-Leinster narrative. And Ó Ceallacháin issued a stout defence of his province.

“The likes of Kilkenny, they have won six Leinster titles, there's no Munster team that has taken them for granted over the last six, seven, eight years,” he said. "The Munster championship is a brilliant competition but I also think maybe a bit too much is read into that too with regards to the days and the crowds and all that kind of thing.” 

ONE-SIDED

Ó Ceallacháin was well within his rights to make that claim when the Leinster championship has already overshadowed Munster to date this season. Leinster has been enthralling while Munster has effectively been a washout because of so many blowouts. Last Sunday’s Clare-Cork game was the third match where the winning margin exceeded 15 points.

Waterford did give Limerick a right run for their money before Limerick pulled away late on but the winning margin in five of the ten games was still north of nine points. Last Sunday’s two blowouts were always a risk when Clare were already qualified, and Tipp were already gone, but it still wasn’t a good look for the Munster championship.

The overall standard has been average this year but is that unusual either? Last year’s Munster championship was far from the epic that it looked set to be after the opening weekend when Clare drew with Cork and Tipp and Limerick couldn’t be separated on the same afternoon. Of the 10 round robin games played last year, only five were of a real high quality.

Those numbers have been more or less similar this year. And yet, in vivid contrast to Leinster, the Munster championship continues to attract record crowds, adding more layers to its aura and mystique with each passing season.

Despite having a lot of issues to solve, Clare still have the potential to be a force in this championship. But the reality is that Munster has been absolutely dominated this year to date by Cork and Limerick.

This year’s final will only be the second Cork-Limerick Munster decider of this era. But the way this rivalry and relationship is developing, Cork-Limerick is on course to becoming one of Munster’s most influential rivalries.

Last year’s final was an epic, only decided after penalties. And next weekend’s decider again has that potential.

The last time Cork were locked in an explosive relationship like this with an opponent in the province was in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Cork and Tipp duelled it out in seven highly charged matches between 1987-’92.

They were all gateway games; whoever won between Cork and Tipp reached an All-Ireland final in four of those five seasons. Cork and Tipp shared three All-Irelands in-a-row between 1989-’91.

The difference this time around is that it’s no longer knockout championship hurling and Cork and Limerick’s seasons are defined by what happens far beyond Munster. The biggest difference though, is that Limerick have the All-Ireland status that Cork are craving.

Whatever happens next Sunday, Cork and Limerick know that there is every chance that the sides will meet again in an All-Ireland final in July. It already looks on the cards that a Munster team will win a ninth successive All-Ireland title, which is the first time that has happened since the 1890s.

All of that discussion has been shelved for now though, as Cork and Limerick could potentially deliver another Munster final for the ages. And if both sides expectedly do like last year, nobody will remember at the end of the season what went on in the Munster round robin, or in Leinster.

The Leinster empire is desperately trying to strike back but more unbridled Munster championship glory looks to be at hand. The province’s glorious past will always be connected to the present.