Cork v Limerick: Munster final will mark Rebels' 12th straight championship sellout

It was a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ on Wednesday afternoon when a limited number of tickets for Sunday’s Munster SHC final went on sale.

A link for the Tickmaster website materialised but, before it could even be properly circulated, those clicking into it were met with a, ‘Sorry, we couldn’t find any results’ message.

For the first time, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be full for a provincial decider – the football finals between Cork and Kerry in 2018 and 2019 were short of capacity while Covid-19 meant an official attendance of zero as the Rebels fell to Tipperary in 2020.

The following year saw the new facility hold the Munster hurling final for the first time; restrictions had been lifted slightly but social-distancing measures meant that the crowd was capped at 7,000 as Limerick produced a stirring fightback to beat Tipperary.

Given the size of the ticket allocation available to the clubs of Cork – factors being quantities allowed to the province’s other counties as well as premium and South Stand tickets reserved for long-term ticket holders demand was always going to far outstrip supply.

That means that Sunday – which has a 2pm throw-in – will be the 12th straight championship match that the Cork hurlers have played in front of a full house, dating back to the 2024 All-Ireland semi-final, when Limerick’s quest for a fifth straight All-Ireland was ended.

Twelve is also the magic number in terms of Cork’s unbeaten home record across league and championship since defeat to Clare at the venue in April 2024.

It is Cork’s first home Munster hurling final since 2014, when they beat Limerick in the last inter-county match to take place at the old Páirc. That was also the last time the Rebels met the Treatymen in consecutive provincial deciders and it was the last time Limerick lost in the fixture until Cork’s penalty shootout win at TUS Gaelic Grounds 12 months ago. In between, they had won six on the trot.

Wexford referee James Owens will take charge of the game, having also been on the whistle for Cork’s two-point win over the Shannonsiders at the same venue in the round-robin stage in April.

The Wexford official was pressed into action during extra time in last year’s final when original ref Thomas Walsh had to retire due to injury.