NHL final preview: Limerick and Cork promise no shadow-boxing in another prime-time clash
7 March 2026; From left, Adam English, Barry Nash and Mike Casey of Limerick in action against Brian Hayes, left and Alan Walsh of Cork during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo
Limerick and Cork meet in a league decider for the first time since 1980
Conor Neville By Conor Neville
RTÉ Sport Reporter
The centenary All-Ireland hurling final in 1984 was famously transported to a refurbished Semple Stadium, Cork beating Offaly with ease.
The 100th anniversary of the National Hurling League has naturally attracted far less hoopla – in fact, borderline no hoopla – and there has been some disquiet over both the venue and the scheduling arrangements for the final.
In Cork, where demand for hurling tickets has been notably hot lately, they’re not impressed at being grouped together on the same bill as the 1B decider, county board chairman Patrick Horgan branding the decision as a “shambles.”
Alongside that, some pundits, Shane McGrath and Brian Carroll among them, have called for the hurling league finals to be moved to Croke Park, following the football template.
The GAA could be forgiven for being caught unawares by that particular clamour. The hurling league final has always been a moveable feast, with Croker holding just three this century. (In 1999, Cusack Park in Ennis was deemed a grand enough stage for the Tipp-Galway league decider).
Last year’s GAA financial report showed a massive jump in income generated from the hurling league, a detail solely attributed to Cork’s appearance in the final, which produced a sellout crowd in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This year, in a slightly smaller venue, we’ve another sellout.
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