All-Ireland hurling final week is here and The Echo Sport Podcast has you covered ahead of the eagerly-awaited showdown between Cork and Tipperary at Croke Park.

The Rebels are favourites, having wrestled the Munster title from Limerick before their shock quarter-final exit at the hands of Dublin and back on the big stage after last summer's agonising one-point extra-time loss to Clare.

The Premier were well beaten by Cork in the Munster series this year and in 2024, along with the league final in April, but they're a very different animal now. We look at how they reshaped the team and went on a five-game run of victories to carry them into their first All-Ireland final since 2019.

The podcast team pick out the hurlers Cork will have to shut down and discuss Liam Cahill's strong record against the Rebels at underage level and if that will have a bearing on July 20.

The marquee match-ups are analysed along with three Rebels who need to hit the heights to end a 20-year wait for All-Ireland glory.

Plus the scramble for tickets, with the Cork hurlers as popular as they were in their last dominant era in the mid-noughties, and all the focus on the 'hype train'.

How can the manic support for Pat Ryan's side be viewed as a negative nationally?

We also round up the league final action across Rebel county, headlined by Sarsfields completing three in a row at Division 1 level with a strong second half against St Finbarr's. It's been a remarkable return to the helm for Johnny Crowley, having also won a county and reached last January's All-Ireland club final in Croker.

They are front-runners for the Seán Óg Murphy cannister, as are Midleton, who beat Killeagh in a fiery Division 2 decider. Elsewhere, Bride Rovers saw off Newcestown after extra time and Aghabullogue's five-goal victory over Ballyhea, two grades above them in championship, also caught the eye.

Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team including Barry O'Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast

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