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2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

Event	2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Limerick Cork 3-32 1-22
Date	22 August 2021
Venue	Croke Park, Dublin
Man of the Match	Cian Lynch
Referee	Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
Attendance	40,000
Weather	Dry with sunny spells 20 °C (68 °F)
← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, the 134th event of its kind and the culmination of the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, was played at Croke Park in Dublin on 22 August 2021.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance was at 50% (40,000 people).

The match was televised live on RTÉ2 as part of The Sunday Game, presented by Joanne Cantwell from the outside studio at Croke Park with analysis by Anthony Daly, Donal Óg Cusack and Henry Shefflin. Commentary on the game was provided by Marty Morrissey alongside Michael Duignan. The match was also live on Sky Sports, with analysis from Jamesie O'Connor and Ollie Canning.

Limerick won the game by 3-32 to 1-22 to claim their third All-Ireland title in four years. This final marked the highest winning score ever achieved in an All-Ireland Senior Hurling final, surpassing Kilkenny's previous record set in the 2008 final. The match was also the highest scoring final in the 134 year history of the fixture.

Background

The two finalists share a Munster rivalry, with the sides having faced one another more than 100 times in the league and championship since their inaugural match in November 1893. The game was the 66th championship meeting between the sides and was their first time meeting in an All-Ireland final.

Limerick made their 19th All-Ireland final appearance and their third in the last four championship seasons, having missed out in 2019. However, they were undefeated in those recent finals appearances, beating Galway in 2018 and Waterford in 2020. Limerick's seven previous All-Ireland titles were secured at various intervals between 1897 and 1973. They were seeking their 10th All-Ireland title overall and their first ever consecutive titles.

Cork made their 50th All-Ireland final appearance overall and their first since defeat by Clare in 2013. They last won the title against Galway in 2005, meaning that the 16-year title drought equals their previous record of no titles between 1903 and 1919. Cork currently lie second only to Kilkenny on the all-time roll of honour and were seeking their 31st All-Ireland title, having won all their previous titles at various intervals between 1890 and 2005. For the first time since 1999, not one single member of the Cork team was a holder of an All-Ireland winners' medal.

This final was the fourth all-Munster final in the history of the championship, after 1997 between Clare and Tipperary, 2013 between Clare and Cork and 2020 between Limerick and Waterford. It was the eighth time when teams from the same province met.

This final marked the third meeting between the teams in the All-Ireland Championship proper. The series currently stood at one apiece, with Cork winning the 2006 All-Ireland quarter-final and Limerick winning the 2018 All-Ireland semi-final. Both sides had already played each other in the 2021 championship, with Limerick beating Cork by 2-22 to 1-17 in the Munster semi-final.

Paths to the final

Limerick

3 July 2021 Munster Semi-final	Limerick	2–22 (28) – (20) 1–17	Cork	Thurles
19:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Semple Stadium
	Gls: K Hayes 1, D O'Donovan 1. Pts: A Gillane 6 (6f), D Byrnes 3 (1f), C Lynch 3, P Casey 3, S Flanagan 2, G Hegarty 2, W O’Donoghue 1, G Mulcahy 1, D Reidy 1.	Report	Gls: S Kingston 1. Pts: P Horgan 5 (5f), J O’Connor 3, D Fitzgibbon 3, S Barrett 2, T O'Mahony 1, S Harnedy 1, R O'Flynn 1, S Kingston 1.	Referee: P O'Dwyer (Carlow) TV: Sky Sports

18 July 2021 Munster Final	Limerick	2–29 (35) – (30) 3–21	Tipperary	Cork
16:15 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0–12 – 2–16)		Venue: Páirc Uí Chaoimh
	Gls: S Flanagan 1, K Hayes 1. Pts: A Gillane 6 (4f), T Morrissey 6 (1f), P Casey 5, D Byrnes 4 (2f, 1 65), S Flanagan 3, G Hegarty 3, C Lynch 1, D Reidy 1.	Report	Gls: J Morris 1, J O'Dwyer 1, M Kehoe 1. Pts: J Forde 11 (3f, 1 65), J Morris 2, J O’Dwyer 2, R Maher 1, D McCormack 1, S Callanan 1, S Kennedy 1, W Connors 1, M Breen 1.	Referee: P O'Dwyer (Carlow) Attendance: 7,000 TV: RTÉ 2

7 August 2021 All-Ireland Semi-final	Limerick	1–25 (28) – (17) 0–17	Waterford	Dublin
17:00 IST (UTC+1)		(HT: 0-15 – 0-07)		Venue: Croke Park
		Report		Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow) TV: RTÉ2 Sky Sports

Cork

3 July 2021 Munster Semi-final	Limerick	2–22 (28) – (20) 1–17	Cork	Thurles
19:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Semple Stadium
	Gls: K Hayes 1, D O'Donovan 1. Pts: A Gillane 6 (6f), D Byrnes 3 (1f), C Lynch 3, P Casey 3, S Flanagan 2, G Hegarty 2, W O’Donoghue 1, G Mulcahy 1, D Reidy 1.	Report	Gls: S Kingston 1. Pts: P Horgan 5 (5f), J O’Connor 3, D Fitzgibbon 3, S Barrett 2, T O'Mahony 1, S Harnedy 1, R O'Flynn 1, S Kingston 1.	Referee: P O'Dwyer (Carlow) TV: Sky Sports

24 July 2021 Qualifier Round 2	Cork	3–19 (28) – (26) 1–23	Clare	Limerick
16:30 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Gaelic Grounds
	Gls: S Barrett 1, S Kingston 1, J O'Connor 1. Pts: P Horgan 10 (4fs, 3 65s); D Fitzgibbon 2, S Harnedy 2; L Meade 1, R O’Flynn 1, S Barrett 1, S Kingston 1; A Connolly 1.	Report	Gls: T Kelly 1. Pts: T Kelly 11 (1-0 pen, 8fs); C Malone 3; A McCarthy 2; R Hayes 1, D Ryan 1, D McInerney 1, C Galvin 1, I Galvin 1, R Taylor 1, S Golden 1.	Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow) TV: Sky Sports

31 July 2021 All-Ireland Quarter-final	Dublin	0–24 (24) – (32) 2–26	Cork	Thurles
19:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Semple Stadium
	Pts: D Burke 13 (7f, 1 65), C O'Sullivan 3, C Burke 2, D Sutcliffe 2, L Rushe 1, R McBride 1, C Boland 1, J Malone 1.	Report	Gls: T O'Mahony 1, S Kingston 1. Pts: P Horgan 12 (8fs, 1 65), S Harnedy 4, J O'Connor 3, R O'Flynn 2, C Cahalane 1, S Barrett 1, N O'Leary 1, T O'Mahony 1, A Connolly 1.	Referee: J Owens (Wexford) TV: Sky Sports

8 August 2021 All-Ireland Semi-final	Kilkenny	1–32 (35) – (40) 1–37 (a.e.t.)	Cork	Dublin
15:30 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Croke Park
				TV: RTÉ2 Sky Sports

Pre-match

Officials

On 10 August 2021, the GAA named Tipperary's Fergal Horgan as the referee for the final. Horgan has been an inter-county referee since joining the Munster panel of referees in 2011, before joining the national panel in 2012. He officiated three prior matches in the 2021 championship; the Leinster semi-final between Kilkenny and Wexford, the round 1 qualifier between Wexford and Clare and the All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Kilkenny. Horgan also served as referee for the All-Ireland finals in 2017 and 2020. His umpire team was John Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Alan Horgan, Mick Butler, and Sean Bradshaw (all Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams). Wexford's James Owens was named as the standby referee. The other linesman were Seán Stack (Dublin) and the sideline official, Liam Gordon (Galway).

Pageantry

A number of traditional All-Ireland final elements returned for the first time since the 2019 All-Ireland final, however, a number of these were scaled back due to COVID-19 protocols. President Michael D. Higgins’ arrival was announced to the crowd but the custom of him meeting the players along with the GAA President did not take place. The pre-match parade featuring the Artane Band made a return.

1996 All-Ireland Championship winners Wexford were not honoured in the traditional fashion as this year's silver jubilee team. Instead, captain Martin Storey represented the team when he brought out the Liam MacCarthy Cup to the plinth on the pitch before the game.

Match

Summary

Cian Lynch opened the scoring with a point for Limerick in the first minute. Gearóid Hegarty got the opening goal of the game after two minutes with a low shot after cutting in from the left to make it 1-1 to 0-1. Two minutes later Cork replied with a goal from Shane Kingston when he cut in from the left and shot high to the net. In the fifteenth minute, Aaron Gillane scored a second goal for Limerick with a low shot to the right corner of the net after a pass from Seamus Flanagan to make it 2-5 to 1-5. Limerick were ahead by 2-8 to 1-6 at the first water break. In the thirty-fifth minute, Gearóid Hegarty got a third goal for Limerick and his second when he ran in on goal and shot low to the left corner of the net. Limerick were ahead by thirteen points at half-time on a 3-18 to 1-11 scoreline. They kept Cork at bay in the second half and scored another fourteen points to eleven for Cork to win the game 3-32 to 1-22 and retain the title.

Details

Limerick

Cork

GK 1 Nickie Quaid B 2 Seán Finn B 3 Dan Morrissey B 4 Barry Nash HB 5 Diarmaid Byrnes HB 6 Declan Hannon (c)  65' HB 7 Kyle Hayes MF 8 William O'Donoghue MF 9 Darragh O'Donovan FW 10 Gearóid Hegarty  61' FW 11 Cian Lynch FW 12 Tom Morrissey  69' FW 13 Aaron Gillane FW 14 Séamus Flanagan FW 15 Peter Casey  36' Substitutes: HB 19 Colin Coughlan  65' FW 22 Graeme Mulcahy  36' 68' FW 23 Barry Murphy  68' FW 25 David Reidy  61' FW 26 Pat Ryan  69' Manager: John Kiely

GK 1 Patrick Collins B 2 Niall O'Leary  47' (c) B 3 Robert Downey B 4 Seán O'Donoghue  52' HB 5 Tim O'Mahony HB 6 Mark Coleman HB 7 Eoin Cadogan MF 8 Darragh Fitzgibbon  47' (b) MF 9 Luke Meade FW 10 Conor Cahalane  35' FW 11 Seamus Harnedy FW 12 Robbie O'Flynn  69' FW 13 Jack O'Connor  47' (a) FW 14 Patrick Horgan FW 15 Shane Kingston Substitutes: B 17 Seán O'Leary-Hayes  47' (c) HB 19 Damien Cahalane  35' B 20 Niall Cashman  52' FW 22 Alan Cadogan  47' (a) FW 23 Shane Barrett  47' (b) FW 25 Declan Dalton  69' Manager: Kieran Kingston

References

1. "Lynch treasuring 'special' Limerick moments". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
2. "Met Eireann forecasts dry weather for All-Ireland hurling final". Hogan Stand. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
3. "GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship". GAA. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
4. O'Brien, Kevin. "GAA unveils 2021 roadmap with leagues starting in May and All-Ireland finals in August". The42.
5. Lawlor, Damian (30 July 2021). "Attendance to increase to 40,000 for All-Ireland finals" – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. Ryan, Eoin (22 August 2021). "Limerick crush Cork to claim back-to-back All-Irelands". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
7. Fogarty, John (22 August 2021). "Record-breaking Limerick retain All-Ireland title after powerful win over Cork". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
8. O'Toole, Fintan (22 August 2021). "Awesome Limerick storm past Cork to retain All-Ireland senior hurling crown". The42.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
9. "Recap: Limerick 3-32 Cork 1-22". RTE Sport. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
10. "Brilliant Kilkenny slay champions Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016". The 42. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
11. "Talking Points as Limerick claim a ninth ever All-Ireland Hurling Title". Limerick Post. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
12. "Not since 1903-1919 have Cork gone so long without a hurling All-Ireland, has their time come again?". Irish Independent. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
13. Moran, Seán (11 September 2020). "Cork's near-record dry spell casts minds back to 2004-05 glory days". Irish Times. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
14. Moran, Seán (10 August 2021). "The best and worst: Hurling finals when teams from the same province meet". Irish Times. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
15. "First-half goal blast clinches win for Limerick against Cork to book Munster final spot". The 42. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
16. "GAA confirms Fergal Horgan to referee the 2021 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Final". www.gaa.ie. GAA website. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
17. "Fergal Horgan selected to take charge of his third All-Ireland hurling final for Cork and Limerick showpiece". Irish Independent. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
18. "Tipperary's Fergal Horgan to referee All-Ireland senior hurling final". The 42. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
19. "Horgan appointed to referee All-Ireland hurling final". RTÉ Sport. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
20. Fogarty, John (19 August 2021). "Two cheers for the Rebels: Cork allowed to make second entry onto pitch on Sunday". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
21. "Martin Storey to represent Wexford's heroes of 1996 as jubilee team at All-Ireland SHC final". Hogan Stand. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
22. "All-Ireland Hurling Championship Final 2021: Cork vs Limerick as it happened..." SKY Sports. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
23. "As it happened: Limerick storm to All-Ireland glory". BBC Sport. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.

• 2021 in hurling
• 2020s in Dublin (city)
• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship finals
• August 2021 sports events in Ireland