One of many fixtures in this year’s League that are dress rehearsals for more critical summer meetings.
Cork and Limerick will open their Munster Championship campaigns against each other on May 10 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, where they also meet tomorrow.
Limerick come into the fixture on the back of a three-week break after their home tie with Waterford fell victim to Storm Dennis last weekend.
Cork’s game with Westmeath did go ahead in Mullingar and almost produced the shock of the competition before Patrick Horgan worked the oracle for the Rebels yet again as they eked out a four-point win. Given the conditions that prevailed, Cork deserve a bit of leeway.
Cork will wear special commemorative black jerseys tomorrow afternoon in memory of Tomas MacCurtain and Terence McSwiney, local men who died during the War of Independence 100 years ago, and the footballers will follow suit against Derry next weekend.
The rivalry between these two counties has intensified over the past couple of years with two unforgettable clashes during the 2018 Championship the touchpaper as Limerick refused to bow to what appeared inevitable defeat on both occasions.
Cork gained a measure of revenge at the Gaelic Grounds in last year’s Championship but the meeting in 11 weeks’ time will possibly be a season-defining game for both sides.
Tomorrow, not so much, but Limerick can win the phoney war, which would almost secure a spot in the knockout stages.
VERDICT: Limerick
