It's been six years since the Cork senior hurlers completed a league campaign unbeaten and tonight their 100% record will face a massive test against a high-powered Limerick outfit looking a lot, bar Peter Casey and Dan Morrissey, like a championship team.
The most encouraging aspect of Limerick’s season so far is their renewed vigour through the nourishment of youth, precision through the lines, hunger in the tackle and counter-attacking play.
Equally, though, Cork have been nurturing callow talents. Over 30 players have received game time thus far, with most recent debutant Barry Walsh from Killeagh and goalkeeper Paudie O’Sullivan from Fr O’Neill’s acquitting themselves admirably.
Heralded at underage for some time now, Walsh looks quite the prospect in a full-forward line bursting with dynamism and pace.
In Killeagh, they had long been waiting in anticipation for him to make his senior debut.
That wait finally ended last year when Walsh hit 1-14 against Midleton in the league and then fired home 1-08 against Na Piarsaigh a few weeks later in the Cork Club Championship.
While many of those scores were from placed balls, his goal against Na Piarsaigh was something to remember. He caught the sliotar in the air, took on two opponents and let fly from way out. There were shades of that same style on view in Nowlan Park last weekend.
Having been part of Cork hurling development squads since under-14 level, Walsh’s selection on the GAA’s 2023 minor hurling team of the year was greeted with great pride by everyone in his home club and county.
This season he will feature in his third year with Cork at U20 level, so progress has been steady and consistent.
Last Sunday’s team didn’t include Mark Coleman, Rob Downey, Séamus Harnedy, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy or Declan Dalton, but with Limerick naming such a strong line-up for tonight’s game it’s expected that the Rebels will follow suit.
Former Limerick goalkeeper Joe Quaid says the result won’t determine what happens over the course of the year, but he insists there will be no shying back at a packed Gaelic Grounds either.
"It’s a hard one to call," he said. "But I don’t think there will be shadow boxing because there is a lot of pride built into both teams.
"Limerick have a strong team, although we wonder if Peter and Dan have picked up knocks or if they are being rested.
"But this game is basically a 'getting-to-know-you-again’ occasion. The result will have no bearing because there is a possibility of the two teams meeting six times this year. So, the key thing is to get a performance and get the attitude right."
Experimentation will continue in places, but the cuckoo will come calling soon and teams will require settling.
For Cork, the likes of Dáire O’Leary and Paudie O’Sullivan are taking their chances in pivotal positions when asked to do so.
For Limerick, the Bull O’Brien and Aidan O’Connor have climbed a couple of rungs on the ladder already this season. Questions remain over who will man the number six shirt for Limerick, but it looks like it’s Will O’Donoghue’s.
"Goalkeeper and full back are huge for Cork," Quaid said. "They are the positions that are maybe not nailed down yet.
"But they will need to be soon. They would look to be a fairly complete team other than that."
And as for his own county replacing Declan Hannon?
"That’s a mad one," he opined. "We all knew that Declan was absolutely brilliant but it’s only since he retired that I have realised just how brilliant he was.
"He was the best shopkeeper you could ever have. He quietly looked after everything in a calm manner and allowed others around him to tear up the field and shoot scores.
"We have not scored as much from the half-back line since he went. Maybe a few years ago we would get eight or nine points from that department, including frees for Diarmuid Byrnes.
"But that mostly happened because Declan orchestrated everything. He knew when to go and when to stay and when needs were greatest, he always popped up for a point too.
"It’s not an easy role to fill," the two time All Star added. "Will O’Donoghue looks like he will fill it but in a completely different way through his tackling and determination. Hannon was different. He was always just wherever the ball was."
Aidan O'Connor, Matthew Fitzgerald, Cathal O'Neill, Shane O'Brien and Colin Coughlan – those are the players that Quaid reckons are now leading the charge.
"They have rejuvenated everyone, including the management and coaches and the other players."
Aside from the class of both teams, the quality of young player, and the strength in depth in both panels, work rate and application will ultimately decide where honours lie this year.
Against Tipperary, Limerick’s shooting and intensity was off the charts. They hit 20 points from direct turnovers, while their shooting on goal has been consistently high again this year.
With Ben O’Connor at the helm, Cork’s effort won’t be any different, with the likes of Killian McDermott epitomising the high pace and high energy that O’Connor wants from his team.
"Ben won’t demand anything less than a full hundred percent every time they go out on the field," Quaid said. "And John Kiely is the same.
"Limerick are a wounded animal from last year and Cork are hurting from losing two All-Ireland finals.
"They have both regrouped, there is new blood in each set-up, and while tonight’s game won’t define the year it will set the tone for what is to come.
"The crowd will be massive, well over 20,000, the interest is huge and it’s important in that regard that both sides go out and perform."
