Limerick defeat Cork in hurling league final

Limerick laid down a marker for the upcoming championship with a 1-27 to 1-21 win over Cork to claim the National Hurling League title at the Gaelic Grounds.

Aaron Gillane produced a man of the match performance, helping John Kiely's men to their first league title since 2023 and deny their neighbours back to back titles.

Limerick were winners when the sides met earlier in the campaign at their home patch, which hosted Cork's penalty shoot-out win between the teams in last year's Munster final.

With the wind at the backs for the opening period, Limerick flew out of the traps with the opening six points before Cork were gifted a lifeline as an under-hit pass from Diarmaid Byrnes was seized upon by Brian Hayes to find the net.

It initially failed to bring the Rebels to life as Adam English, Aidan O'Connor and Kyle Hayes kept the board ticking for Limerick who then grabbed a goal of their own as Aaron Gillane turned Will O'Donoghue to blast home and open a 1-11 to 1-2 lead midway through the opening period.

This proved to be the spark Cork needed as they enjoyed a good run to the half, out-scoring the hosts by eight points to two with Alan Connolly on form from frees.

At the other end, a last-ditch hook on Adam English prevented a certain goal and moments later Cian Lynch was denied by Patrick Collins and while the ball rolled over the line in the ensuing scramble, it was ruled out for a foul.

By half-time, Limerick held a 1-13 to 1-10 advantage and it was an even start to the second period with the sides twice trading, but the Treaty began to turn the screw with O'Connor and Byrnes punishing fouls, while Gillane landed a pair of sumptuous scores as the hosts opened a six-point gap with 15 minutes to play.

Cork were never out of it and enjoyed a good spell with Hugh O'Connor, Tim O'Mahony and William Buckley halving the deficit within the space of two minutes.

However, Limerick always had a response and although Mark Coleman got Cork to within two, it was as close as they got as Byrnes, Gearoid Hegarty and David Reidy chipped in to assist Gillane who fittingly rounded off the scoring from a free, bringing his tally to 1-7, ensuring Limerick made up for a barren 2025 with the first major silverware of 2026.

The teams will meet again in this year in the Munster Championship round robin at Cork's Páirc uí Chaoimh on Sunday, 26 April.

That will be Limerick's first game of the campaign due to the bye with Cork opening seven days earlier on 19 April in an All-Ireland final rematch against Tipperary in Thurles.