Munster hurling league draw made: Cork discover group-stage opponents

The Cork hurlers will have early-season encounters with Tipperary and Waterford following the draw for the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League, which was made on Tuesday.

While there had been uncertainty regarding whether or not the league, or its football equivalent the McGrath Cup, would take place in 2027, there was an appetite among the counties in the province to have a chance to audition players before the national leagues commence on the second-last weekend in January.

Cork were drawn with the Premier County – who will provide the opening opposition in the Allianz Hurling League – and Waterford, with Clare, Kerry and Limerick playing off in the other group.

The game against Tipperary will be away while Waterford will travel to Cork.

In the McGrath Cup, the Rebels will have a January joust with Kerry ahead of the counties’ first Allianz Football League meeting in a decade, while Clare are also in that group, with Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford on the other side.

Cork will make the journey to Clare, while the ‘old firm’ clash will be at a Leeside venue.

Both competitions will operate on the same format, with the top side in each group after the round-robin progressing to the finals, which will take place from on the weekend of January 14-16. Fixtures details will be finalised in due course.

2027 Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League – Group 1: Cork, Tipperary, Waterford; Group 2: Clare, Kerry, Limerick.

2027 McGrath Cup – Group 1: Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford; Group 2: Clare, Cork, Kerry.