CORK and Limerick will lock horns for the fifth time this season when they meet in Sunday’s Munster SHC final (2pm) at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

This rivalry is fast becoming one of the defining match-ups of the modern era, and this will also mark the second successive Munster final between the counties.

Last season, memorably, Cork beat Limerick in their own backyard to win a first Munster title since 2018. Now the Rebels want back-to-back triumphs.

Limerick won the opening three meetings this year in the Munster Hurling League (1-28 to 0-16) and Division 1A of the National Hurling League (3-19 to 0-20 and 1-27 to 1-21), but Cork came out on top in the championship clash, winning 2-22 to 1-23.

Interestingly, all four encounters this season have been won by the home team – a statistic Cork supporters will hope continues this weekend.

Both counties powered through the Munster round-robin series. Cork became only the second team in the history of the format to record four consecutive wins, while Limerick racked up ten goals across their four games and finished with a scoring difference of +39.

To underline their dominance, the other three teams in the championship all ended with negative scoring differences.

Given the level both teams have reached, and the fact no other county has won the Munster title since 2016, there is a strong argument that Cork and Limerick are currently the top two teams in the country. They could yet meet again in July.

For now, though, the focus is solely on the provincial crown.

Limerick will be determined to reclaim the title after Cork ended their bid for eight Munster titles in a row last season. The Rebels, meanwhile, are chasing back-to-back Munster crowns for the first time since 2018.

As always with this fixture, the individual battles could prove decisive.

Cork manager Ben O'Connor has placed his faith in youth following Patrick Horgan’s retirement, and so far that gamble looks to be paying off.

Limerick still possess huge experience in defence through Seán Finn, Diarmuid Byrnes and Dan Morrissey, but Cork’s lively attack of Shane Barrett, Brian Hayes and William Buckley has the pace and movement to test any rearguard.

Morrissey is likely to pick up Hayes, while Buckley’s duel with Finn promises to be a fascinating battle between youth and experience.

At the other end, Damien Cahalane’s likely tussle with Shane O’Brien is another key match-up after Limerick found joy in that area during the round-robin clash.

Equally important will be who Cork assign to Aidan O’Connor. The Limerick sharpshooter is the top scorer overall in this year’s Munster championship and also leads the scoring charts from play.

Robert Downey or Eoin Downey appear the most likely candidates to track him, and Cork will need one of them to produce a huge display.

Whatever unfolds on Sunday, one thing feels certain: there will be fireworks.