Good evening, and welcome along to The 42‘s live coverage of the 2025 Munster senior hurling championship final.

Will it be seventh heaven for Limerick, or can Cork stop them on their home patch and get their hands on the Mick Mackey Cup for the first time since 2018?

Throw-in at the TUS Gaelic Grounds is 6pm and the game is live on RTÉ 2, but we’ll keep you up to date right here.

The prize on offer this evening. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

John Kiely’s Limerick are chasing an unprecedented Munster seven in a row. Cork are in their first final since 2018, when they retained their title.

This is the first Limerick-Cork Munster final since 2014.

Call it.

Who will be crowned the 2025 Munster senior hurling champions?

Team News

Here’s the two starting teams that were named on Thursday. We’ll keep you updated on any late changes, but there doesn’t appear to be any.

Damien Cahalane and Diarmuid Healy both start for Cork, the latter set to make his first senior championship start.

Limerick are much-changed from the experimental side that played Clare, with one switch from their round-robin win over Cork before that: Aidan O’Connor is in line for his maiden senior championship start, with Shane O’Brien on a stacked bench. 

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Sean Finn (Bruff), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 4. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), 7. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

8. Adam English (Doon), 9. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh)

10. Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), 11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell – captain), 12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)

13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 14. Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown), 15. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)

Subs

• 16. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
• 17. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
• 18. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown)
• 19. Séamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
• 20. Declan Hannon (Adare)
• 21. Barry Murphy (Doon)
• 22. Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock)
• 23. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen)
• 24. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
• 25. Paddy O’Donovan (Effin)
• 26. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister)

Cork 

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), 3. Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), 4. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)

5. Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum) 6. Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), 7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)

8. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), 9. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)

10. Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), 11. Shane Barrett (Blarney), 12. Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)

13. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), 14. Alan Connolly (Blackrock), 15. Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s) 

Subs 

• 16. Brion Saunderson (Midleton)
• 17. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
• 18. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
• 19. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)
• 20. Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s)
• 21. Luke Meade (Newcestown)
• 22. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
• 23. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
• 24. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields)
• 25. Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own)
• 26. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers).

While this is the first Limerick-Cork Munster final since 2014, the Gaelic Grounds was the venue when the counties also clashed in the decider the year before.

There’s three survivors on each squad from that 2013 decider: Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy and Conor Lehane from Cork, Declan Hannon, Shane Dowling and Nickie Quaid from Limerick.

Patrick Horgan inspecting the pitch. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Ref Watch

Waterford’s Thomas Walsh is the man in the middle this evening.

Incredible noise at the TUS Gaelic Grounds as Limerick and Cork parade. There’s a significant breeze. Huge crowd, what an occasion this will be.

“This is more than a hurling match. It’s history, tradition, pride,” Martin Morrissey says on RTÉ. Almost go time.

THROW IN: We’re underway. Cork won the toss and are playing with the breeze.

Cork 0-1 Limerick 0-0

1 min – Cork off the mark first through Patrick Horgan.

Cork 0-1 Limerick 0-0

3 mins - Wides follow at either end, Tom Morissey with Limerick’s second. They’ll be keen to get up and running imminently.

Cork 0-2 Limerick 0-0

4 mins – Seamus Harnedy gets Cork’s second, the Rebels surging up the field after a turnover on Aaron Gillane. Huge noise, the atmosphere sounds electric.

Cork 0-3 Limerick 0-0 

6 mins – Horgan lands his second, and Cork’s third, from a free. The referee brought it back for a foul on Harnedy as he shot wide.

Let off for Cork just before that as Gillane sent Cian Lynch through on goal, but he’s pinged for a throw ball. 

Cork 0-3 Limerick 0-2

7 mins - Tom Morrissey and Aidan O’Connor split the posts as Limerick get off the mark.

SAVE from Patrick Collins in between, denying Adam English.

Cork 0-3 Limerick 0-3

9 mins - Morrissey again, and the sides are level for the first time.

Cork 0-4 Limerick 0-3

10 mins - Diarmuid Healy nudges Cork back in front with a big effort near the left sideline.

Morrissey and Harnedy exchange wides at either end thereafter.

Cork 0-5 Limerick 0-4

13 mins - Healy again with a great score on the turn, on his first senior championship start. Limerick hit back through David Reidy.

Cork’s Cormac O’Brien and Gearoid Hegarty of Limerick. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 0-6 Limerick 0-4

15 mins - Damien Cahalane, what a score. Inspirational stuff from the corner back, from downtown!

Cork 0-7 Limerick 0-4

16 mins - Shane Barrett, under pressure, with another massive score and Cork lead by three. Goalkeepers kept on their toes at either end before that, lines to be cleared, but no major chances.

Cork 0-8 Limerick 0-5

18 mins - Diarmaid Byrnes nails a free from inside the Cork 65m line, before Harnedy responds at the other end.

GOAL! Limerick 1-5 Cork 0-8 (Aidan O’Connor 20)

Aidan O’Connor rattles the Cork net on his first senior championship start. The Ballybrown youngster gathers a diagonal ball from Cian Lynch, turns inside and goes route one, beating Patrick Collins on the inside as he hammers the sliotar off the turf. 

Hammer blow for Cork, that feels like a big momentum swing.

Limerick 1-6 Cork 0-8 

23 mins – Reidy scores his second from play, and Limerick lead for the first time.

Limerick 1-6 Cork 0-9

24 mins - Tim O’Mahony levels it, all square for the third time this evening.

SAVE! Nickie Quaid with a huge stop on Brian Hayes.

Limerick 1-7 Cork 0-9

26 mins - Gillane grabs his first of the day. He twists and turns and fires over after a diagonal ball from Reidy.

GOAL! Cork 1-9 Limerick 1-7 (Shane Barrett 27)

Cork have their green flag! Barrett pulls on the ball first time after a scramble, for his first goal of this Munster championship.

Gearoid Hegarty looks to respond immediately, but Collins comfortably saves.

Cork 1-11 Limerick 1-8

29 mins - Alan Connolly and Adam English exchange points, before Cork goalscorer Barrett tags on another.

Here’s Limerick’s goal from earlier:

GOAL LIMERICK
20mins: LIM 1-05 COR 0-08
The first goal of the game as Aidan O'Connor bats it home.#rtegaa
📺@rte2 & @rteplayer
📻 Saturday Sport on @rteradio1
📱Updates: https://t.co/cI3G1IS4wg pic.twitter.com/dBOiKo484I

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025

Cork 1-11 Limerick 1-9

31 mins – Hegarty with an inspirational score under severe pressure from Darragh Fitzgibbon.

Cork with some poor wides before that, the count 9 v 4. Pat Ryan was furious at one stage two, feeling Horgan was fouled inside and having words on the sideline.

Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-9

34 mins - Barrett and Horgan stretch out Cork’s lead — but they’ll be disappointed not to have another goal, Hayes I think it was flashing across. 

Fitzgibbon gets in on the scoring act from deep.

Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-10 

35 mins +1 – Reidy swings over another. Pat Ryan isn’t happy with another decision.

HALF TIME: Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-10

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Bit of drama at the whistle there as both management teams marched onto the pitch and had to be separated. Ryan had been furious with some refereeing decisions and seemed set to remonstrate, before being cut off by Kiely and co. Both teams eventually head for the dressing room, the crowd loving the needle.

Fintan O’Toole is at TUS Gaelic Grounds for us…

HT: Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-10.... Cork management furious with couple decision before half time when Patrick Horgan and Brian Hayes looked to have been fouled.

— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) June 7, 2025

Snapshot of Cork's improvement from three weeks ago....starting forward line hit 0-3 from play in round robin, have collective 1-10 between them in first half today.

— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) June 7, 2025

Here’s what happened at the half-time whistle:

HT LIM 1-10 COR 1-14
"It's Saturday Night Fever at the Gaelic Grounds..." - both benches unhappy with the officials at the break.#rtegaa
📺@rte2 & @rteplayer
📻 @rteradio1
📱Updates: https://t.co/cI3G1IS4wg pic.twitter.com/fU2EGd5Dv0

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025

So, Cork lead by four points at the break, 1-14 to 1-10.

Will it be enough given the huge wind advantage they enjoyed? An entertaining half of hurling, with Aidan O’Connor and Shane Barrett scoring the goals.

Remember, Limerick are chasing a seventh successive Munster title, while Cork are aiming for their first since 2018.

We showed you Limerick’s goal earlier, so here’s Cork’s:

GOAL CORK
27mins LIM 1-07 COR 1-09
Shane Barrett's first-time effort finds the back of the net as Cork edge ahead.#rtegaa
📺@rte2 & @rteplayer
📻 Saturday Sport on @rteradio1
📱Updates: https://t.co/cI3G1IS4wg pic.twitter.com/bghpnWJ6J7

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 7, 2025

SECOND HALF: We’re back!

Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-11

36 mins - Limerick waste no time in cutting to the chase, Adam English with his second point of the evening.

Cork 1-15 Limerick 1-11

38 mins - Horgan nails a straightforward free at the other end, after Casey is adjudged to have over-carried under severe pressure from Cork. Hayes geeing up the crowd, Kiely not happy with the decision. The needle continues.

Cork 1-15 Limerick 1-12

40 mins - Gillane points a free after Gearóid Hegarty was fouled. Separately, before that, Hegarty and Cormac O’Brien both saw yellow for wrestling off the ball.

Cork 1-15 Limerick 1-12

42 mins - Gillane’s next effort from a free ricochets off the post, it was given for what referee Thomas Walsh perceived to be a Joyce throw ball. Reidy sees yellow for a foul on Collins, Walsh is cracking down.

Shane O’Brien is on for Limerick.

Cork 1-15 Limerick 1-13

45 mins - English adds another for Limerick. It has been a scrappy, stop-start opening to the second period.

Cork 1-16 Limerick 1-13

46 mins - Horgan nails another free, three between the sides again. 

A bit of confusion before that: Fitzgibbon had raced through after superb play from Cork, escaping the clutches of Casey, and his goal-bound effort goes out for a ’45. But the referee’s whistle had sounded for a Casey foul, he sees yellow.

GOAL! Limerick 2-13 Cork 1-16 (Shane O’Brien 47)

DRAW GAME. Super sub O’Brien fires into the roof of the net after a superb deft flick from Gillane after a long ball in.

Cork were furious with a decision, or lack thereof beforehand, feeling Hayes should have had a free.

Limerick 2-13 Cork 1-16

51 mins - High octane stuff, with tensions running high. Cork have a free, but first, the referee is having a word with Seán O’Donoghue, who he flashes a yellow card at for throwing away Aaron Gillane’s hurley.

Cork 1-17 Limerick 2-13

53 mins - Hoggie scores the free he won himself, Cork lead by the minimum.

Cork 1-17 Limerick 2-14

54 mins – Limerick super sub O’Brien adds a point to his tally, and levels the game again.

Changes for each side: Robert Downey in for Cormac O’Brien, Peter Casey and Cathal O’Neill replace David Reidy and Tom Morrissey.

Cork 1-18 Limerick 2-14

56 mins – Hayes squeezes an effort inside the post to move Cork back in front, 21 points to 20.

Limerick’s Kyle Hayes and Shane Barrett of Cork. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 1-18 Limerick 2-15

59 mins - Gillane levels the teams for the sixth time with his latest free, which was awarded as Cian Lynch was fouled. He raced through, Robert Downey shouldering him in the back and O’Mahony also joining in.

Horgan sends a free wide at the other end, as they make a change – will catch you up on that one once I can.

Cork 1-19 Limerick 2-15 

60 mins - Cork back in front by one, Fitzgibbon firing over. That change was Tommy O’Connell for O’Mahony.

Cork 1-19 Limerick 2-16

63 mins - Draw game once more, Gillane free.

Downey pinged for pulling out of Hegarty off the ball, and Limerick take the gift with both hands. Peter Casey follows up with a disappointing wide.

Cork 1-20 Limerick 2-17

65 mins - Eoin Downey picks the perfect time for his first championship score to put Cork back in front, but Gillane reels them in from play. Level once more.

Shane Kingston in Alan Connolly for Cork, Darragh O’Donovan replaces Will O’Donoghue on the Limerick side.

Cork 1-21 Limerick 2-18

67 mins - Healy at one end, Hegarty at the other. Will we have a winner, or are we extra-time bound?

Cork 1-21 Limerick 2-18

68 mins – Cork wide. Hayes from a tight angle, confusion and uncertainty as the officials take their time, but wide is the final decision. We’d like to see that one again.

Robbie O’Flynn comes off the Cork bench for Harnedy.

Limerick 2-19 Cork 1-21

69 mins - LIMERICK LEAD. O’Donovan fires over.

Kyle Hayes with a huge block at the other end.

FOUR MINUTES ADDED.

Limerick 2-19 Cork 1-21

70 mins +1 - O’Flynn hits Cork’s 15th wide, and he’s disappointed with that one.

Limerick still lead by one.

Limerick 2-19 Cork 1-22

70 mins +2 - HOGGIE LEVELS IT!!!! From play. Two minutes to go.

Limerick 2-19 Cork 1-22

70 mins +3 - GILLANE WIDE. Free from a tight angle.

Still all square.

FT: Limerick 2-19 Cork 1-22

WE GO TO EXTRA TIME!

Both sides had chances in the dying seconds, Joyce shooting wide from long range and O’Donovan completely mis-hits a shot/delivery.

More to come, stay with us.

Time for a new poll before we settle in for extra-time.

Call it. The 2025 Munster senior hurling champions will be…

Limerick are back out on the pitch, along with referee Thomas Walsh. We await Cork’s return, and another drama and tension-filled 20 minutes in extra-time.

Cork are out. Limerick win the toss this time, and play with wind advantage.

Limerick 2-20 Cork 1-22 

EXTRA TIME

71 mins - Declan Hannon scores with his first involvement from the bench, what an introduction from the former captain.

Limerick 2-21 Cork 1-22

ET 72 mins – Gillane converts the free he brilliantly won. Good start to extra-time for Limerick, two from two.

Cork change: Niall O’Leary in for Seán O’Donoghue.

Limerick 2-21 Cork 1-22

ET 74 mins – Hegarty protesting after a wide. Referee Thomas Walsh is now down with cramp, Adam English helping him stretch before further attention arrives.

Confirmation of the Limerick changes before action resumed: Hannon and Barry Murphy in for Byrnes and Casey.

Ref Change

James Owen steps in for Thomas Walsh, who limps off after an eventful evening for the Waterford referee.

“This Munster final really has had everything,” says Marty on RTÉ. “Who wrote the script? I have no idea. And it’s not over yet!”

Limerick 2-21 Cork 1-22

ET 78 mins – Fitzgibbon puts his first free wide, with Horgan off. Cork’s 17th of the day. A Limerick player saw yellow before that, but we missed who it was unfortunately. 

New referee James Owens awards another free for a high challenge on Lehane. Fitzgibbon steps up again…

Limerick 2-21 Cork 1-23

79 mins - Fitzgibbon nails the more central effort. One in it.

Limerick change: Tom Morrissey back on for Hegarty.

Limerick 2-21 Cork 1-24

ET 80 mins – LEVEL GAME. Shane Kingston from play. What impact!

Cork 1-25 Limerick 2-21 

ET 81 mins – CORK LEAD BY ONE! Conor Lehane. More of that impact. 

The Rebels in front against the wind.

Cork 1-25 Limerick 2-22

ET 83 mins – LEVEL GAME. Gillane from a free, awarded for a Rob Downey free on Morrissey.

Came after two Limerick wides, Gillane with the most recent. 

HT ET: Cork 1-25 Limerick 2-22

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

All square, still. Three points apiece in that first half of extra time, and a change of referee. Cork were playing against the wind, remember.

If the game is still level after another 10 minutes, we go to penalities…

CORRECTION: The score is Limerick 2-22 Cork 1-25, apologies. Earlier post should be updated.

Just a bit going on…

Limerick 2-22 Cork 1-25

ET 80 mins - We’re back underway, Adam English with a poor wide to reopen proceedings.

Limerick 2-23 Cork 1-25

ET 82 mins - Gillane nudges Limerick one point ahead once more, nailing a free. Cahalane sees yellow for the foul, a high challenge on Casey.

Limerick 2-23 Cork 1-26

ET 82 mins - LEVEL AGAIN. Kingston again – after Cahalane’s effort came off the post.

Limerick 2-23 Cork 1-27

ET 84 mins - CORK LEAD BY ONE. Lehane again. 

Alan Connolly is back in. Can the Rebels see this one out?

Limerick 2-24 Cork 1-27

ET 85 mins - ALL SQUARE. O’Brien with the point after Lynch raced through.

Limerick 2-25 Cork 1-28 

LIMERICK LEAD AND THEN CORK EQUALISE.

Casey, then Tommy O’Connell.

86 minutes gone. 31 points each.

Cork 1-29 Limerick 2-25 

SHANE KINGSTON AGAIN. CORK LEAD BY ONE. 87.21 on the screen.

Cork 1-29 Limerick 2-25 

ET 88 mins - Collins drops one in, Limerick clear their lines. They had been wasteful before that Kingston score, can they make up for it?…

Cork 1-29 Limerick 2-26

ET 89 mins - CATHAL O’NEILL. LEVEL GAME.

O’Neill misses his next effort, Limerick win a scoreable free…

All level as Gillane gears up.

GILLANE SCORES. LIMERICK LEAD BY ONE, 2-27 TO 1-29. WILL CORK GET ONE LAST CHANCE?

Casey pinged for steps in defence, Cork free and Fitzgibbon is going to launch it forward.

CLEARED OFF THE LINE?!?!?! Quaid fumbles, out for a 65. Here we go….

DARRAGH FITZGIBBON SCORES THE 65. WOW. LEVEL GAME. 

PENALTIES!!!!!

FT ET: Limerick 2-27 Cork 1-30

The 2025 Munster SHC final is going to a penalty shoot-out.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Penalty shootout to decide Munster hurling final....Cork dig out a draw with Darragh Fitzgibbon '65.

Teams level 7 times in extra-time and level 7 times in normal time after the 47th minute.

— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) June 7, 2025

Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane gave Cork huge energy since being brought on at end of normal time, 0-5 from play between them, massive impacts in attack.

— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) June 7, 2025

Incredible, incredible drama as we gear up for penalties.

A Munster seven in a row for Limerick, or the end of remarkable dominance and a first title since 2018 for Cork? It all comes down to this.

HERE WE GO. Limerick up first.

PENALTIES: Limerick 1-0 Cork

Byrnes scores.

PENALTIES: Limerick 1-0 Cork

SAVE!!!! Nickie Quaid denies Darragh Fitzgibbon, who goes down with cramp afterwards.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-0 Cork 

Aaron Gillane nails his.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-1 Cork 

Conor Lehane scores.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-1 Cork

LIMERICK WIDE!!!! Disappointment for Barry Murphy.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-2 Cork

Shane Kingston scores.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-2 Cork 

SAVE!!!! Patrick Collins denies Tom Morrissey.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-3 Cork

Alan Connolly scores. Super pen.

PENALTIES: Limerick 2-3 Cork 

WIDE!!!! Declan Hannon misses.

CORK ARE MUNSTER CHAMPIONS!!!!

CORK HAVE DETHRONED LIMERICK AND ARE MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2018.

Limerick’s seven in a row bid ends in the most dramatic of circumstances, a penalty shootout.

A game that had absolutely everything, and will be talked about for many years to come.

Huge pitch invasion at the Gaelic Grounds, a sea of red as the Rebels celebrate.

Munster champions again!!!!

Almost three hours on from throw-in, after remarkable drama, twists and turns, Cork are preparing to lift the Mick Mackey Cup before a sea of red at the Gaelic Grounds.

Fintan O’Toole’s match report is on The 42, and we’ll have much more over the coming hours and days.

Rob Downey lifts the silverware to huge noise and jubilation. 

“It’s a great honour to stand up here today and accept this trophy on behalf of an unbelievable bunch of men,” he begins.

What a night, and week, ahead on Leeside!

I’m going to wrap up the liveblog here, and maybe go and lie down!

Thanks very much for reading. Roll on the All-Ireland championship!