LIMERICK ARE 70 minutes away from bridging a 45-year gap between All-Ireland titles as the most extraordinary of hurling championships ticks towards its conclusion.
John Kiely’s side overpowered Cork in extra-time to reach a first All-Ireland final in 11 years.
The Rebels were the last of hurling’s three traditional counties to depart the race for the Liam MacCarthy, following the quarter-final elimination of Kilkenny and Tipperary’s provincial round robin exit.
Limerick beat all three sides this summer, becoming the first county since Clare in 1997 to defeat the big three in the one campaign.
Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Waterford, also defeated by Limerick in the championship, were another big team to limp out early in the competition.
Limerick will take on the winners of next weekend’s semi-final replay between Clare and Galway. Either way, it will be a novel final pairing in Croke Park on 19 August.
Limerick and their neighbours Clare have never met in an All-Ireland final, while the Shannonsiders last clashed with Galway in the 1980 decider.
Are the revolution years hurling enjoyed in the 1990s on the way back?
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