Cork and Limerick are hurling favourites but here's how all six contenders match up

Cork can enjoy the wonderful novelty of a home Munster final on Sunday as regardless of the result, the serious stuff begins in a few weeks with five teams standing in their way of a first All-Ireland hurling triumph in 21 years.

Dublin are dangerous for a few reasons, with the main one being that they got a taste for it last year and they liked it.

They want more now. They clearly surprised themselves by winning last year's quarter-final against Limerick and were very much in bonus territory in the semi-final against Cork. 

They were ultra naive that day, leaving their full-back line completely exposed with Cork taking full advantage and filleting them with seven goals.

They look a different team defensively this year with them impressively keeping clean sheets in their last three games in the victories over Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny.

Kilmacud Crokes goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons has come in and looked really assured between the sticks while the returned veteran Liam Rushe has definitely made Dublin look more robust down the spine of their defence. 

Manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin has them looking meaner this year and any side that keeps clean sheets in hurling has a chance at beating anyone.

Galway were most pundits tip to win Leinster this year after their showing in the league and they will be a hard nut to crack with an attack that has a nice blend of youth and experience with young tyros Jason Rabbitte and Aaron Niland being backed up by the likes of Conor Whelan and Cathal Mannion.

A worry for them will be the manner in which they conceded three goals in each of their last two round robin ties against Dublin and Wexford. It is difficult to envisage them handling one of the Munster sides with that kind of concession rate, but they definitely possess the pace, power and hurling to hurt any team left in the competition. 

You do get the feeling, however, that this year might be a year too early for this talented emerging Galway team.

Offaly qualifying out of Leinster at Kilkenny’s expense is a great hurling story when you consider the depths that Offaly hurling sank to in recent decades. 

It's good to have them back but at the same time, they simply aren't at the level, at least yet, to be All-Ireland contenders.

That brings us to Clare. After the two maulings they got in the Munster round robin against Limerick and Cork it is very difficult to make a case for them as All-Ireland hopefuls. 

Surely Cork are the last team to go writing off anyone off the back of one or two big beatings, given the manner in which Tipperary turned around the form guide in last year's final.

Clare need to be treated with the respect that the All-Ireland champions of two years ago deserve, although Brian Lohan and Co clearly gave a lot of work-ons to get them in shape for the likely challenges of Cork and Limerick.

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Which leaves Limerick. Familiarity is certainly breeding a degree of contempt amongst the two championship favourites. 

There was the league game in March. The league final in early April. The Munster round robin game a few weeks later and now the Munster Final this weekend down in SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

It has been the expected All-Ireland final pairing all year so if that transpires, there will be little or no room for hidden tactics or unknown match-ups.

Given Cork's victory over Limerick in that aforementioned Round Robin tie, as well as last year's Munster Final triumph and the two famous championship wins in 2024, if Ben O’Connor’s team were to emerge victorious over John Kiely's charges once more, it would put serious doubts in the minds of Limerick.

They very much believe they remain the alpha in the hurling world but those beliefs do not stack up if they keep losing big games to Cork. 

Their motivation to put Cork in their place will be strong on Sunday.

The Rebels will know what is coming their way. Limerick start every game at 100mph. Cork must be prepared for this. 

They weathered that initial storm well in Round 2, with Shane Barrett’s timely goal bring a settler in that respect, but they can't continue to give Limerick significant head starts in games either.

Aaron Gillane missed the last game down the Park and Cian Lynch was sent off at an important juncture and Limerick have been happy to excuse the result as being down to these two issues.

It is up to Cork to lay down a marker in this respect as the psychological damage that could be done for later in the campaign could be huge if they do.