Limerick vs Cork Preview
It’s been a phenomenal year in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship. Now we’re at the semi-final stage with one of the most exciting clashes of the season. Reigning champions Limerick will face their Munster rivals, Cork.
The game will take place on Sunday, July 7th, at 4 pm in Croke Park. Their last match was an absolute thriller, so fans hope this will live up to expectations. The victor will face the winner of Kilkenny vs Clare on July 21st.
Limerick is the favourite in this game, but Cork has proven they can win having beaten them already this campaign. The Treaty County is gunning for a historic fifth title in a row, but the Rebels are determined to stop them.
Limerick vs Cork Key Stats and Head-to-Head
This has been another fantastic season for Limerick as they won a record sixth Munster title in a row. The country expected them to cruise to another All-Ireland title, but then they showed their potential weaknesses. They met Cork in May and suffered a shock loss.
That game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh was one of the season’s best matches. Hurling fans knew Cork was improving but didn’t expect them to stand up to Limerick this way. The Rebel County won 3-28 to 3-26 in a thriller that went down to the wire.
Cork’s manner of victory was stunning because it looked like the game was over with four minutes left. Limerick led by four points after a Seamus Flanagan masterclass. But they outscored the Treaty County by 1-04 to 0-1 in the last few minutes.
Patrick Horgan scored a penalty after Sean Stack’s costly black card. Brian Hayes sealed the game-winning point after brilliant time management by Pat Ryan. It was an iconic moment for the county as they eked out a narrow victory.
Limerick’s most recent win was their Munster Championship Final against Clare. They won 1-26 to 1-20 in a dominant display. Peter Duggan ensured the Banner went into the break level, but Limerick exploded into life in the second half.
Tom Morrisey scored three points from play for the Shannonsiders while Gearoid Hegarty contributed 1-2. Clare couldn’t keep pace with Limerick despite their best efforts. This was an ominous victory for Limerick as they proved their All-Ireland credentials.
Meanwhile, Cork overcame Dublin for a spot in this semi-final. This was a competitive game, but the Rebels had too much in the tank for the Dubs. Pat Ryan’s men captured the lead after 15 minutes and never allowed it to slip.
Patrick Horgan scored 10 points for Cork with three from play. Declan Dalton also had a good all-round game with several long-range frees. He was a chance provider for his teammates, too. However, Cork manager Pat Ryan will worry about how they allowed Dublin back into the game. They gave away too many chances toward the end of the match and can’t afford to do that against a more clinical Limerick.
Limerick has hit more wides than almost all of their opponents this season, with a 65% conversion rate. However, this is a misleading statistic because they have so many shots. The Cork game was a rare exception because the Rebels missed more point attempts.
Usually, it’s Limerick’s forwards who receive the plaudits. But Nickie Quaid is one of their most valuable players. The Effin goalkeeper has been outstanding this season and made some crucial saves in the Munster final against Clare. He’s also a valuable playmaker with many of their attacks coming from the back.
They used short puck-outs to significant effect against the Banner and will probably do the same in this semifinal. John Kiely will trust in his team’s ability to out-hurl the Rebel County. Limerick plays a scintillating brand of hurling, so this shouldn’t be beyond them.
Limerick vs Cork on Sunday.
If it’s anything like their 2018 semi-final.
My god, what a game of hurling.
— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) July 2, 2024
Cork has massive motivation to win this game because it would seal their first All-Ireland Final appearance since 2021 when they lost to Limerick. It’s been a frustrating two decades for the county since their last All-Ireland win in 2005. Limerick has replaced Kilkenny as the nation’s dominant power, but other counties are catching up.
Limerick had several injury problems this season, but their panel is growing stronger at a crucial time. Richie English and Darragh O’Donovan are available again. Sean Finn and Seamus Flanagan should recover from injuries ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final. Only Peter Casey remains a long-term absentee.
Cork needs Pat Horgan to be at his best in this match. The 36-year-old veteran remains an inspirational presence on their side and is a dangerous forward. His talismanic leadership gives them a chance against Limerick.
Charleville’s Darragh Fitzgibbon is another key player for the Rebels. He won the GAA Hurler of the Week Award, following his exploits against Limerick in their last meeting. He hopes to replicate this performance against the Treaty County again at Croke Park.
However, it’s difficult to look past Limericks’ lethal forwards. Cian Healy is one of the best hurlers in the country and can score from anywhere. They have talent all over the park with four-time All-Star Kyle Hayes offering a threat from wing-back. This is one of the greatest county sides in All-Ireland Hurling Championship history. Sooner or later, these players will appear on our list of the best hurlers of all time.
It will take a special effort for Cork to beat them. They’ve already done it once this season, but it would be sensational if they could emulate their success again.
Limerick vs Cork Predictions
Predicted Score: Limerick 2-24 – 1-20
Our hurling prediction is for Limerick to win this match in style. This will be an exciting game with many scores. However, Limerick’s sheer class is undeniable. That’s why they will overwhelm Cork and proceed to the All-Ireland Final.
Indeed, the Rebels have already defeated Limerick this season. However, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to replicate that performance. That was a special day in front of their fans in Tralee. It’s going to be a different story at GAA HQ.
The other problem is that the result could have been what Limerick needed. It showed them they must focus and be perfect to achieve their five-in-a-row dream. They won the Munster Championship again anyway, so the Cork loss was just a blip.
Cork fans will argue they have a fighting chance to cause an upset. It’s not unthinkable because they have already done it. They also may have more motivation than Limerick courtesy of their All-Ireland drought. This team is a live underdog, but they have everything to prove first.
Live betting is a good option for this game because Cork may take an early lead. It would be worth betting on Limerick to win the second half because they’re so relentless. Check Novibet for the latest odds.
Limerick vs Cork Betting Tips
The Treaty County is a firm favourite to win this game at 7/20. Betting on Limerick to win outright is not worthwhile because €10 would only win €3.50. Check out other markets and opportunities for prop bets to maximise your returns.
Cork is a 14/5 underdog and this will be tempting for many players. The Rebel County defeated Limerick already this season and this will spur them on. The same €10 stake would win €28 if successful.
Why not check the over/under odds on the number of points or goals in this game? Another option is to select the winner of each half. It’s 11/10 for Limerick to win both, although we expect them to dominate the second.
Other GAA markets include the first goalscorer and the half with the first goal. Aaron Gillane is a 7/2 favourite to put the ball in the net. Meanwhile, it’s 1/5 for a goal to come in the first half and 7/2 for it to come in the second. Gearoid Hegarty is the most likely player to win the RTE Man of the Match award.
Another option is to bet on the exact score. This would take a lot of confidence, but it’s 200/1 for most scorelines involving Limerick scoring two goals and between 20 to 30 points. This could be an excellent opportunity to claim our welcome bonus. It’s a wildcard bet that could be made with no risk.
Unsurprisingly, Limerick is the favourite to secure the game’s first score. It’s 13/8 for them to do it via a point from open play. Meanwhile, it’s 8/11 for Treaty County to score the game’s first point, so this could be a good double.
Don’t forget to check out the weekend’s other semifinal with Kilkenny playing Clare. The Cats are a slight favourite to beat the Banner. However, we would bet on the winner of Limerick vs Cork to lift the Sam Maguire this season.
