The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final will be a rematch of last year's titanic encounter between defending champions Limerick and Kilkenny on Sunday, July 23, in Croke Park.
The two served up a memorable meeting in last year's finale, with Limerick coming out on top by a narrow two points margin. It is a familiar setting for Kilkenny but has come by way of a new leader in Derek Lyng.
Rather than view suceeding the legendary Brian Cody as @kilkennyCLG hurling manager as a daunting task, Derek Lyng was always determined to leave his own stamp on the role and so far is doing just that. #GAABelong
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 13, 2023
John Kiely's Limerick are as formidable an opponent as any side could face. The Treaty men are amongst the very best the game has seen. Kiely and Co are gunning for the phenomenal feat of four successive All-Ireland crowns. The Cats were last to achieve that in 2006-09. Before that, only Cork in 1941-44 had claimed the iconic four-in-a-row.
It is an altogether different task for Kilkenny, as the South East powerhouse of hurling hopes to reclaim the title after an uncharacteristic dry spell. Having not lifted Liam MacCarthy since 2015, a trio of final defeats in 2016, 2019 and 2022 have the 36-time winners hungry for retribution.
Do your bit to get behind the team as we count down to the 2023 All-Ireland Final! Join the Kilkenny GAA Supporters Club online today! https://t.co/qxpWN2CPN5 pic.twitter.com/UwbiMSM4AN
— Kilkenny GAA (@KilkennyCLG) July 12, 2023
Last weekend, Limerick eased to victory against Leinsters runners-up Galway in the semi-finals, while Kilkenny saw off the challenge of Munster finalists Clare.
In a nail-biting conclusion between two highly-competitive sides, Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy highlighted his credentials for top honours with one of the finest saves the game has ever seen.
The winning of the game for Kilkenny!
An absolutely OUTRAGEOUS save from Eoin Murphy at the death to keep his team in front ?pic.twitter.com/MzGNSCJDBI
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 9, 2023
Limerick will contest their fifth final in six seasons, having last reached four successive All-Ireland finals in 1936. They were victorious in 1934 and 1936, losing out in the 1933 and 1935 showpieces.
Astonishingly, this will be the first Kilkenny side without Brian Cody as manager in 24 seasons. For Derek Lyng, this is not an opportunity to continue the great man's legacy; it is a chance to cultivate his standard and derail a side striving for the ultimate legacy.
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