The ' Full House' signs are sure to be up at Semple Stadium on next Sunday afternoon when the hurlers of Cork and Clare meet in both the Minor and Senior Munster Finals. I reckon this will be about the twelfth time the counties will have met in a Senior Final and I think I've seen five of them. In actual fact my first ever Munster Hurling Final was in 1972 in Thurles when Cork played Clare. I went that day with Pat O Connor, Dan Dooley and the late Dave Ryan. Captained by Frank Norberg Cork won easily by 6 18 to 2 8. I was certain coming home through Cashel and Cahir that evening that we'd win the All Ireland -we nearly did but Kilkenny got their claws on us in the second half of the Final. In 1977 and 78 en route to the three-in-a-row Cork defeated the Banner in successive provincial finals. Five point was the margin in '77 but we were haunted to win 0 13 to 0 11 the following year.  I can still recall the late, great 'Hoggy'- John Horgan scoring some sweet points from the half back line that day. In 1986 and again in 1999 we defeated Clare in the Munster Final and again went on to win the All Ireland.

Clare were then -as Dalo said, "the whipping boys of Munster" but all's changed now, utterly changed. Clare have won three All Ireland's in modern times, the third in a replay against Cork just three years ago. They said then they'd win three or four in a row -easier said than done. They won the league last year but then Davy moved to Irelands Ancient East where he has enthused and invigorated the Model County.

So next Sunday we have in the Red corner Diarmuid 'The Rock' O Sullivan from Cloyne and in the Saffron and Blue corner Donal Óg Cusack from Cloyne. This is just one of the sub-plots in this intriguing clash. Clare want to build belatedly on their 2013 win while a new Cork team bid for a repeat of glorious 1966 and 1999.

These will be hard earned Titles on Sunday. Modern Clare have made 'tradition' and fashioned great skilful teams of dash and pace.

We are a proud Dalcassian race, who sprang from noble clan,

Steeped deep in lore and legend since records first began.

For music song or dancing, no county can compare

With the spirit of the Bannermen in the storied County Clare.

 This is 'Willie Clancy' week in Milltownmalbay so all Clare followers will be hoping for a great end to the festivities. Between the Cork Senior and Minor teams there is huge interest in the North East Cork area.  While Colm Spillane from Castlelyons is the only 'local' on the Senior team many more have plenty connections by Bride and Blackwater. Midleton's Conor Lehane is son of Matt who hurled for several years withhis parish team Bride Rovers and Conor's granduncle Micheal Cranitch was a Rovers player in the 1930's. Bill Cooper of Youghal has many cousins in Rathcormac, Ballyhooley, Bartlemy and Castlelyons- Bill's great, great grandmother was Ellen Murphy from Rathcormac, her sister Kate married John Ring- hence Ring's Cross and public house, now the Rathcormac inn. Interestingly there is a double local connection between the Minor and Senior teams. The Sub Goalie on the Senior team is Patrick Collins and his brother Ger is the Minor keeper - their mother is Ina Murphy of Lackendarragh, Kildinan. Another of the Collins' family of Ballinhassig, Matthew was Cork minor keeper a few years back -the same season his first cousin was Galway 'keeper'! Barry Murphy of Castlelyons has featured on the cork Minor team all this year. His great, great, grandfather Dan Murphy was a brother of Bill Coopers ancestor Ellen while another of that clan, Kate Murphy, was also of course the grandmother of Cork hurler Seanie Barry. The Cork Minor Hurling team in years gone by would be peppered with players from the Barrs, Glen and Rockies-changing times indeed, just one player, Glen Rovers Robert Downey, from the 'big three' is on this current panel of 24. There will be huge local interest in the 'Avondhu Area' with Bride Rovers, Ballyhooley, Kildorrery and Castlelyons all having representatives wearing the Red and White. For the Roche twins of Bride Rovers it's been a very busy year. Just after their exploits with St Colmans it was straight into Cork action -with both the under 17 and Minor teams. Living only a sliotar puck from where the first ever Cork and Tipp game was played in 1741 Brian an Eoin have starred with the u17 team in winning the Munster Championship and on Sunday are going for the double. At midfield Ballyhooley's Diarmuid Linehan has been very consistent, hard working, busy and tigerish in his hurling. From the 'Top of The Hill' in Kildorrery comes James Keating an eager-beaver stylist. The sub keeper is also from famous Kildorrery Town -Ian Butler; solely responsible for keeping his club team in the Intermediate championship after a stunning save against the Barrs in Rathcormac a few weeks back. Don't talk about tickets -it's just like an All Ireland Final only in July. With two Qualifiers in Thurles on Saturday and then the Munster Finals on Sunday Semple Stadium will truly be the home of hurling for the weekend. 

Tipp are bate, the hay is saved so come on ye Rebels….

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final

Clare will play Cork in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday July 9th at 4pm in Semple Stadium Thurles.

Ticket Information

• Buy Before Match Day and save €5
• Pre-Purchase Covered Stand: €35
• Pre-Purchase Uncovered Stand Adult: €30
• Pre-Purchase Adult Terrace: €25
• Juveniles U-16’s in all Areas: €5

(Clare are allocated the Killinan End terrace, Cork will be in the Town End Terrace)

Rebate of €10 for Students/Seniors with valid id prior to entry at the designated stiles.

The above prices are pre-purchase prices, applicable until midnight of the night before the game. All adult ticket prices increase by €5 on the day

Tickets are available online at corkgaa.tickets.ie, or munstergaa 

Tickets can also be purchased in Centra and Supervalu stores in Clare, Cork and across Ireland – visit the Munster GAA Ticketing Locator to see participating stores in Munster. See below for list of stores in Cork.

Tickets are also available at Centra and Supervalu Stores
Centra/Supervalu Ticket Outlets