Sunday July 29

All Ireland SHC Semi-Final

Cork v Limerick, Croke Park, 3.30pm

A bumper crowd will attend what promises to be an intriguing encounter.

Cork's cocktail of style and substance was rewarded with a second successive Munster title.

That the final arrived following a gutsy comeback against Clare merely added to the sense of satisfaction.

John Meyler's team of established and emerging stars now want to demonstrate their potential in the closing stages of the Championship.

Cork, though, know all about Limerick's improvement with the Pairc Ui Chaoimh draw last month a clear sign of the strides John Kiely's charges have taken.

It was a wonderfully resilient performance from Limerick, who are successfully integrating several of their victorious All Ireland Under 21 outfits from 2015 and 2017.

Those Limerick players have dealt with the burden of expectancy so the green and white brigade believe that an All Ireland Final appearance can be attained.

Cork were outfoxed by Waterford at this stage last year and many valuable lessons were learned. While Mark Coleman and Darragh Fitzgibbon are hurlers of immense promise, the scores being supplied by Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy, and Conor Lehane still provide a source of inspiration.

Harnedy has nailed 3-14 from play this summer, Lehane 1-11, and Horgan 1-12. Prolific Glen Rovers attacker is also clipping the frees with trademark accuracy.

Tom Morrissey is a key figure for Limerick, who also a nice mix of power and pace in attack. The half back line of the sweet striking Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, and Dan Morrissey has been instrumental in their journey. The next test will be the most revealing of all the examinations sat so far.

CORK: Anthony Nash; Sean O'Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane; Christopher Joyce, Eoin Cadogan, Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Daniel Kearney, Conor Lehane, Luke Meade; Shane Kingston, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan.

LIMERICK: Nicky Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O'Donovan, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy.