Taoiseach Micheál Martin hails ‘magical' year for hurling as Cork and Tipp face Croke Park showdown
Gardaí urged people to allow sufficient time for travel - as virtually all bus and rail services from Cork and Tipperary to Dublin are booked out.
Dublin hotels are similarly almost at capacity.
Traffic concerns have focused on the fact the vast majority of Cork and Tipperary fans intend to travel to Croke Park on Sunday morning - and virtually all will share the same route into Dublin.
Mr Martin acknowledged that Cork has enjoyed enormous support as the Rebel County seeks to end its 20 year All Ireland hurling drought.
Over 60,000 Cork fans travelled to Dublin two weeks ago for the semi-final clash with Dublin - with Croke Park having an 82,300 capacity.
"I don't wish to predict in advance or put any pressure on our team (Cork)," the Cork South Central TD said.
"I think it has been a wonderful year of hurling so far. It has been joyful to witness the extraordinary Cork crowds who have attended every game.
"I think Cork have proven themselves in terms of resilience - it was a heartbreaking year last year."
Mr Martin is a lifelong Gaelic games fan and plans to attend the hurling final on Sunday, having attended virtually all Cork matches this season.
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"It was a wonderful year but they just came up short at the end (2024)," he said.
"I hope for the players they will want to do it for themselves. They put huge effort in - to be an inter-county player today requires incredible sacrifice from themselves, their families and their partners.
"Again, particularly the players we all know - the household names - who in my view deserve to have an All Ireland medal. We wish the very best for them."
Cork is not only bidding to win their first All Ireland since 2005 but is determined to win a Celtic Cross medal for legendary forward, Pat Horgan, considered by many to be the greatest hurler of the modern era not to have won an All Ireland.
"It is wonderful to see the young people and children dream again - we all remember from our own young days the iconic images of a particular captain lifting a cup," the Taoiseach added.
"What it brings to a city and county - I have no doubt that Sunday will enable many more young people to dream that someday they will be in Croke Park in an All Ireland final. That is the magic of it.
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