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11th Jul 2014

GAA-zilla: JOE’s look ahead to a monster weekend of GAA action

It's a jam-packed weekend of Gaelic Games with a Munster Hurling Final, two Hurling Qualifiers, a Connacht Football Final and loads of Football Qualifiers up for decision...

Joe Harrington

It’s a jam-packed weekend of Gaelic Games with a Munster Hurling Final, two Hurling Qualifiers, a Connacht Football Final and loads of Football Qualifiers up for decision…

Storyline of the weekend: The Munster Senior Hurling Final between Cork and Limerick takes place in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday and the game has generated plenty of debate and talking-points before a ball has even been pucked.

The capacity has been a huge issue in the lead up to the game, it’s been heated at times but in the end 36,646 will get to see the match on Sunday. Lots of fans were hoping to get some of the extra tickets yesterday morning but were left disappointed after a technical issue prevented people from buying tickets online and in person.

It’s going to be a special occasion because it’s the last game to be played in the famous stadium on Leeside before it’s knocked down and renovated. Da Pairc is not the most comfortable or state-of-the-art stadium but it’s still a very special venue for a big game like Sunday’s, so if you are heading along, soak in the atmosphere as much as possible.

General view of spectators queuing outside Pairc Ui Chaoimh 6/7/2014

There’s also a game on Sunday! It’s a repeat of last year’s Munster Final which was won by Limerick and both sides are heading into this weekend feeling they have something to prove. The Rebels are looking for their first piece of silverware for eight years (hard to believe) while The Shannonsiders want to shake the notion that last year’s success was a flash in the pan.

Cork have gone with the same team that beat Clare in the semi final while Limerick make one change from the team that started the win over Tipperary with David Breen replacing Sean Tobin at corner forward.

So, who is going to win it? Cork have three Championship games under their belt already so you’d imagine they’ll be coming into the game sharper than Limerick, who haven’t played since beating Tipp on June 1. Obviously getting to the pitch of a game early is vital, as Dublin found out against Kilkenny last Sunday, so you’d have to worry about the long break if you’re a Limerick fan.

In terms of ability, there’s very little between the sides. People always talk about Limerick as a team whose main attribute is their stomach for a battle, which they do have, but that’s a little bit disrespectful when you have names like Declan Hannon, Graeme Mulcahy, Richie McCarthy, Tom Condon, James Ryan and Shane Dowling in the ranks.

Cork have focused on adding steel to the spine of their side this season and with Damien Cahalane, Mark Ellis, Aidan Walsh, Bill Cooper and Pa Cronin, it looks pretty solid. That added to talents like Conor Lehane, Alan Cadogan, Seamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan is a nice sight for Corkonians.

So, who is going to win? We’re not avoiding the question but it’s a hard one to call. We are going to go with Cork to edge it for a few reasons – last game in the Pairc, Pat Horgan is on fire and they should be sharper thanks to the number of games they’ve played.

Patrick Horgan 15/6/2014

Keep an eye out for… Changes to the Cork team before throw-in. Damien Cahalane and Mark Ellis were injury doubts for this game but both are included in JBM’s starting 15. Conor O’Sullivan, Eoin Cadogan and William Egan are most likely to step in if they have any set backs.

Game likely to be the subject of least discussion on The Sunday Game: The Ulster Hurling Final between Derry and Antrim is on Sunday at Owenbeg. Derry haven’t won it since 2001 because Antrim have won every Ulster title since. We expect a grand total of zero coverage of this on The Sunday Game.

Jim White mis-pronounced word of the weekend: We are all looking forward to Jim reporting on the venue of the Munster Final. He might be giving Rachel Wyse a quick call when he sees Pairc Ui Chaoimh on his script.

Bet of the weekend: Wexford to beat Clare in the All Ireland Hurling Qualifiers, 11/4

It’s been a hell of a week for Wexford hurling with the Seniors almost beating the All Ireland Champions on their home patch and the Under 21s beating Dublin in the Leinster Final. Their tails are up, as they say.

Cian Dillon and Liam Og McGovern 5/7/2014

The replay with Clare takes place in Wexford Park this Saturday and Wexford are in with every chance of progressing considering their form and the fact that the Banners have looked very out of sorts so far.

11/4 looks like a decent bet to us.

Did you know? The first ever Munster Senior Hurling Final in Pairc Ui Chaoimh was back in 1976 and it was between Cork and Limerick so it’s fitting that this Sunday’s last game in the stadium is between the two sides.

A certain Eamon Cregan scored 4-1 for Limerick that day while Jimmy Barry Murphy scored a goal for Cork, who won 3-15 to 4-5.