Cork will enjoy home advantage for the Allianz Hurling League final as they chase a first title in 27 years.
The decider against Tipperary on Sunday, April 6 will be played at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh owing to a home and away arrangement between the counties. Although they haven’t met in a League final since 1960, their last knockout tie in the competition was a semi-final played in Thurles in 2012 as Cork emerged victorious before losing the final to Kilkenny.
Prior to that, 10 years earlier, they played a semi-final tie at the old Páirc Uí Chaoimh when Cork were also the winners but, just like a decade later, were beaten in the final by Kilkenny.
It will be the second time in three years that the final takes place at the home of Cork GAA, which was reopened in 2017 amid a costly redevelopment, after Limerick scored a comfortable win over Kilkenny in the 2023 decider. Prior to that, a hurling League final hadn’t been played on Leeside since 1980, when Cork beat Limerick after a replay.
The Offaly-Waterford Division 1B final will be the curtain raiser on the day, despite suggestions that both games would be played at Croke Park, which last staged a League final in 2019 (Limerick-Waterford).
This coming weekend’s Allianz Football League finals have also been confirmed, with the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee mixing up the schedule somewhat.
Traditionally, the Division Three and Four finals have formed a Saturday evening double header, followed by the Division One and Two deciders the following day, but it is the Roscommon-Monaghan Division Two decider that will share the bill with the meeting of Wexford and Tipperary in Division Four at Croke Park on Saturday.
The Division One final between Mayo and Kerry will naturally enjoy the main billing on Sunday afternoon and will be preceded by the Offaly-Kildare Division Three decider.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Saturday, March 29
Allianz Football League
Division Four final: Wexford v Limerick, Croke Park, 5pm.
Division Two final: Monaghan v Roscommon, Croke Park, 7.15pm.
Allianz Hurling League
Division Two final: Down v Kildare, Grattan Park, Inniskeen, 1.30pm.
Division Three final: London v Mayo, TBC.
Division Four final: Fermanagh v Louth, TBC.
Sunday, March 30
Allianz Football League
Division Three final: Offaly v Kildare, Croke Park, 1.45pm.
Division One final: Mayo v Kerry, Croke Park, 4pm.
Sunday, April 6
Allianz Hurling League
Division 1B final: Offaly v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.45pm.
Division 1A final: Cork v Tipperary, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm.
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