MUNSTER SFC FINAL:THE USUAL pieties about lop-sided looking matches at least have an element of plausibility here. The GAA Munster football finalists met over a year ago and Cork were blessed to win, but a great deal has happened since to propel the counties in different directions.
Limerick – unluckily but indisputably – ended up being relegated from Division Three whereas Cork rumbled to the Division Two title. It’s a long time since a team from outside the top flight won an All-Ireland, but status at the lower end of the league is even more important and for a county with Limerick’s recent history, a drop to the basement is demoralising.
On the upside, manager Mickey O’Sullivan has pulled off a diplomatic coup by persuading Justin McCarthy to part with a couple of dual players, the first time that has happened since Liam Kearns’ era when loyalty to their under-21 manager kept everyone aboard.
They also have championship know-how, as they demonstrated against the Tipperary team that won the plaudits of everyone by climbing to Division Two in two seasons. Limerick simply blitzed them in the opening half-hour, exploiting their nervousness at a poor recent championship track record, surviving the comeback and closing out the match.
Stephen Kelly, the rugby season behind him, is back in the team after injury kept him out of the opening championship engagements with Tipperary and Clare.
His pace will be a major asset for the team, but the task of coping with Cork extends throughout the field.
There may be some comfort for Limerick in Cork’s traditional tendency to take their eye off the ball once Kerry have been dealt with. This was last seen in Munster when they had such difficulty with Tipperary in 2002, needing a replay (plus some committee-room alchemy) to win the title that year.
Having impressed on both days against Kerry, Cork may let their guard down, but it would be well for Limerick not to make that the centrepiece of a game plan.
Already there is evidence that in terms of fitness and conditioning Conor Counihan’s side have progressed since last year.
They have a physicality and pace that creates pressure on opponents.
Maybe the full-forward line of Goulding, Masters and Donncha O’Connor will be found out in more testing circumstances at Croke Park, but those misgivings won’t take their toll just yet.
CORK:A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch; J Miskella, G Canty, K O'Connor; A O'Connor, N Murphy; P Kelly, P O'Neill, P Kerrigan; D Goulding, J Masters, D O'Connor.
LIMERICK:S Kiely; J McCarthy, S Gallagher, M O'Riordan; S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranaghan; J O'Donovan, J Galvin; P Browne, C Joyce-Power, S Buckley; G Collins, S Kelly, I Ryan.
Referee:R Hickey (Clare).
In the last episode:A year ago Limerick all but had the match sewn up when Cork popped up with two injury-time goals to filch the semi-final before going on to beat Kerry in the final. Extraordinarily in a province of six counties, these two haven't met in a football final for 108 years. Cork won 1-9 to 1-6 but this a completely new Limerick team.
You bet:Cork are a prohibitive 1/11 with Limerick 7/1. Even the draw is a lengthy 14/1. With an eight-point start, Limerick are evens.
On your marks:Cork governed the middle third against Kerry, hovering up possession both in the air and on the ground and recycling it at speed into fast-moving attacks. Limerick's Stephen Lucey will have to block Pearse O'Neill to keep the area reasonably sealed.
Gaining ground:Limerick had their only championship win over their opponents in decades here in 2003.
Just the ticket:Covered stand costs €35 with uncovered seating €30 and terrace €20.
Crystal gazing:Limerick weren't the expected beneficiaries of the non-Cork-Kerry side of the draw, but they are a seasoned championship outfit and capable of making a match of it. But that's the limit of the sustainable ambition.
