Darragh Fitzgibbon: Cork under no illusion about need to up their game against Limerick

Cork are under no illusion about having to up their performance level if they're to beat Limerick on Sunday, according to midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon.

The Rebels beat the All-Ireland champions in the Munster round-robin in May, a game which they had to win to have any chance of saving their season. And they did just that, with Patrick Horgan's late goal from a penalty helping to swing the game in their favour.

It started a run which has now seen them win four games on the bounce, dispatching Tipperary, Offaly and Dublin on their way to a first semi-final in three years, and a first coming through the provincial round-robin since they won Munster in 2018.

But for Fitzgibbon, the performance eight weeks ago in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh won't be enough to see them end Limerick's quest for five-in-a-row hurling immortality.

"Limerick are such a good side and they're very good at adapting to what you're able to do," he said.

"We know that if we bring the exact same thing as we brought the last time, it won't be good enough. We have to bring more and we have to tweak a couple of things."

On Limerick he adds, "you look at their players from 1-15, and the guys coming in and they're all exceptional players.

"Their ability to adjust to the changes that you're trying to bring against them is very tough. You need everything to go right for the full 70 minutes to have any chance against them.

"Over the last couple of years they've been asked every type of question and they've answered it.

"They're an incredible side and we'll just try our best."

The key for Cork this season seems to have been the ability to banish the doubts that existed around the team.

They ended their 2023 Munster campaign with a draw against Tipperary, and followed up it