Dublin are aiming to retain the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time in the county's history on Sunday, following previous successes in 2010 and 2017.
DUBLIN are aiming to retain the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time in the county’s history on Sunday, following previous successes in 2010 and 2017.
Standing in their way are 11-time champions Cork, who are back in the senior final for the first time since 2016. Cork and Dublin have met four times previously in senior deciders, with the Leesiders emerging victorious on each occasion, including three successive finals in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Dublin claimed their very first Lidl National League Division 1 title in May before going on to land a seventh successive Leinster senior title later in the summer.
Mick Bohan’s team then achieved victories over Cavan, Mayo, Kerry and Galway to reach the final. Ephie Fitzgerald’s Cork regained the Munster senior crown before defeating Monaghan, Armagh, Westmeath and Donegal to book a return to Croke Park.
Cork captain Ciara O’Sullivan said at a press day at Croke Park on Tuesday: ‘It’s been a good year for us. We developed some of the younger players in the Lidl League and, while we were disappointed to lose the semi-final, we learned a lot from it. Winning the Munster championship was massive for us as a young team, and particularly having not even made the Munster final last year.’
• Throw-in at Croke Park is at 4pm on Sunday and the final is being televised by TG4.
