Where does Sunday’s Limerick-Clare classic rank among the great Munster finals?
With extra time required to separate sides that were level on 15 occasions and Clare pushing Limerick, one of the greatest teams in any era, right to the brink amid almost unbearable tension in a packed Semple Stadium, it certainly ticks most of the boxes.
But recency bias can cloud the mind too and so it’s instructive to remind ourselves of some of the great finals that have gone before.
We’ve picked out just five of them.
2004 - Waterford 3-16 Cork 1-21
At the time this game was played 18 years ago, it was widely acknowledged as the greatest Munster final of them all.
It was the high point of a brilliant era for Waterford hurling, even outstripping their breakthrough win of two years earlier, as they found a way to win despite the concession of a soft goal early on John Mullane’s second half red card.
Paul Flynn’s superb goal from a free was a key turning point, while Ken McGrath’s catch at the death is arguably the standout moment from his terrific career.
Cork regrouped to win the All-Ireland that year, however, while Waterford, minus a suspended Mullane, were pipped by Kilkenny in the semi-final.
1996 - Tipperary 1-16 Limerick 0-19
The last Munster final where no back door applied for the losers and it was a day when Limerick refused to yield despite being well adrift at half-time.
Like last year, Limerick chased down a 10-point deficit after current Waterford boss Liam Cahill lit up the Gaelic Grounds with an early goal and it was difficult to envisage Tom Ryan’s side closing the gap without registering at least one goal.
Yet, they slowly reeled Tipperary in with Frankie Carroll hitting an equaliser at the finish to force a replay that Limerick won comfortably.
Having become the first county to beat Cork in the Championship at Pairc Ui Chaoimh before seeing off All-Ireland champions Clare and then Tipperary after a replay, it was one of the great Munster Championship victories.
1991 - Tipperary 4-19 Cork 4-15
Tipperary-Cork had firmly re-established itself as hurling’s box office fixture by 1991 with the Rebels having relieved their fierce rivals of their All-Ireland title the year before.
So, much hung on their Munster final meeting 31 years ago, and a Thurles replay was required after a stalemate at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Cork looked to be on their way when leading 3-13 to 1-10 midway through the second half but a sensational Tipperary comeback rocked them on their heels as goals from Pat Fox and Declan Carr drew the sides level before another from Aidan Ryan crowned the victory and sparked a delirious pitch invasion.
1984 - Cork 4-15 Tipperary 3-14
Tipperary’s famine lasted a further three excruciating years as a result of a late smash and grab by Cork in Thurles.
Without a Munster title since 1971, Tipp led by four points with seven minutes remaining only to lose by that margin after a dramatic finish.
A scoring burst of 2-2 proved decisive in the wind-up. John Fenton started and finished that salvo with a point but in between Tony O’Sullivan and Seanie O’Leary pounced for goals to inflict a devastating defeat on Tipperary and secure one of Cork’s sweetest ever victories en route to All-Ireland glory.
1973 - Limerick 6-7 Tipperary 2-18
A Munster final that was played over 80 minutes as it fell during a five-year experiment for provincial finals, All-Ireland semi-finals and finals, as Limerick claimed their first title since 1955 and only their second in 33 years.
Francis Loughnane weighed in with 2-10 of Tipperary’s tally and a madcap eight-goal thriller eventually came down to a Richie Bennis 65 after Eamonn Grimes had seen a goal effort blocked.
With Michael ‘Babs’ Keating offering words of encouragement as he took his strike, Bennis hit the winner with the last puck of the game as Tipp protests at the umpires’ decision ultimately coming to nothing.
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