LORCÁN McLoughlin believes the rivalry between Cork and Limerick is developing into one of hurling’s great modern match-ups.

As the counties prepare for Sunday’s Munster SHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the former Cork hurler expects another epic encounter between what he sees as the best two teams in the country.

With both sides having come through the Munster round-robin in impressive fashion, the Kanturk man senses a rivalry reminiscent of the iconic Kilkenny-Tipperary battles of a decade ago.

‘Limerick have some of the best players ever to play the game. Similar to Kilkenny a decade ago, you had Tipperary challenging them. There is a rivalry like Kilkenny-Tipp developing between Cork and Limerick,’ McLoughlin told this week’s Star Sport Podcast.

‘You can’t take away from what Limerick have achieved. The players they have are exceptional, but Cork have beaten them on a number of occasions that mattered – the Munster final last year (on penalties) and the All-Ireland semi-final the year before (1-28 to 0-29).

‘Cork won’t fear Limerick, but they will also have huge respect for what they have done as a team.

‘Both teams are coming into the game in great form, so they’re on a collision course on Sunday that everyone is looking forward to.’

The counties will meet for the fifth time in all competitions this year, with Limerick having won three of the previous four encounters. However, Cork came out on top in the championship round-robin clash, winning 2-22 to 1-23.

Clare, Dublin, Galway and Offaly are also in contention for the Liam MacCarthy Cup, but will Sunday be the last meeting between Cork and Limerick this season?

‘I don’t think so,’ McLoughlin said.

‘They are two serious sides and I’d be surprised if they don’t meet again further down the line.

‘The All-Ireland series is a different competition and, as we saw with Tipperary last year and Clare the year before, coming in under the radar in third position can be a nice place to be.

‘Everyone in the country will sit back on Sunday and watch two teams go for it. You have to treat the Munster championship and the All-Ireland championship as separate competitions but, having said that, both teams will go for it on Sunday.

‘There will be no shadow boxing from either team.’