Limerick’s pursuit of a historic five consecutive All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles came to a dramatic halt yesterday as Cork triumphed in a thrilling semi-final at Croke Park. The Rebels secured their place in the final with a narrow victory, edging out the Shannonsiders by 1-28 to 0-29.
Cork’s victory was marked by a standout performance from Brian Hayes, who top-scored with 1-4, including a critical goal in the first half that set the tone for the match.
This win propels Cork into the All-Ireland final, where they will face Clare on Sunday, July 21st. The Rebels are now on a mission to end a 19-year wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup, having last won the championship in 2005.
Cork manager Pat Ryan expressed his pride and satisfaction with the team’s performance, attributing their success to thorough preparation and teamwork. “Once the team is prepared, once we train as well as we can, once the lads and everybody is doing their job in our group, between the S and Cs, the fitness guys, the hurling guys, the selectors and management team. We’ve fantastic mental coaches. So we’re ticking a lot of those boxes that need to be ticked,” Ryan said.
He acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge posed by Limerick, praising his players for rising to the occasion. “I knew our lads were going to perform today, but saying that we’re going to beat Limerick is another thing. It is a fantastic achievement,” Ryan added.
As Cork prepares to face Clare in the All-Ireland final, anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling contest. Clare, who secured their place in the final by defeating Kilkenny, will be formidable opponents. This final is a rematch of the 2013 decider, which Clare won after a replay, adding another layer of intrigue to the upcoming clash.
For Cork, this final represents an opportunity to reclaim their place at the pinnacle of hurling and end nearly two decades of waiting for the Liam MacCarthy Cup. The players, management, and fans are all eager to see the Rebels lift the trophy once again.
