Cork v Kilkenny: Roads to the All-Ireland final

Powerhouses Cork and Kilkenny are getting ready for battle in what will be the 17th final meeting between the pair when they clash at Croke Park on Sunday.

The previous 16 finals, the first played in 1970 and the last in 2018, have had an almost even split with the Cats enjoying a 9-7 winning record, and they're just about favoured to get into double figures in tomorrow’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland final.

Recent finals have not been kind to the Leinster side though, their 2020 triumph coming on the back of three straight losses, while the Rebels are trying to respond to last year’s All-Ireland final loss to Galway.

There’s plenty on the line, and here’s how they have made it to the biggest day in the camogie calendar.

CORK

Securing top spot in their group meant that Matthew Twomey’s side avoided an All-Ireland quarter-final, and they made the most of that extra break to return to the final.

May 21, 2022: Group 1 round 1 – Wexford 1-06 Cork 2-14

Cork’s campaign started on the road in Enniscorthy, but there were no away day blues as they made a commanding start to the group stage.

The scoreline was harsh on the hosts, who were still just at arm’s length after 50 minutes, but Cork’s experience shone through in the closing stages.

Davy Fitzgerald – part of Twomey’s coaching team – was back on a Wexford sideline for the first time since stepping away from their senior hurlers 10 months earlier, and they had to work out a way to counter a very aggressive Model press early on.

Chloe Sigerson, prominent in those early stages, and Emma Murphy both landed a brace of points to leave them 0-04 to 0-02 ahead early on with Izzy O’Regan and, again, Murphy extending their lead.

When Amy O’Connor struck for goal at the end of the first half, things