Cork 2-21
Limerick 1-21
Daragh Small reports from the Gaelic Grounds
CONOR LEHANE’S SECOND-half strike helped Cork finally halt the Limerick juggernaut with a win at the Gaelic Grounds today.
In a rematch of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final the reigning All-Ireland champions were looking for their fifth win in-a-row against their Munster rivals.
But John Meyler’s side were too powerful, and with 1-9 from Pat Horgan they avenged that 3-32 to 2-31 extra-time defeat at Croke Park on 29 July.
Cork were quicker to every ball in the first half here and with a slight breeze at their backs they took a 1-13 to 1-7 lead into half-time.
Horgan was immense and he scored 1-6 before the break, with Peter Casey’s goal crucial for the home side.
Limerick struggled and fell behind after only 35 seconds when Aidan Walsh scored down the right wing. Horgan and Daniel Kearney quickly piled on the pressure with further points.
Seamus Flanagan hit back but after two misses from Shane Dowling, Horgan scored a point and then a clinical goal. He claimed possession off of a Christopher Joyce delivery and flicked the ball past Nickie Quaid.
Limerick were 1-4 to 0-1 in arrears after nine minutes and every time Dowling found his range, his scores were answered by a couple of points from Cork.
When Tim O’Mahony landed a massive free in the 22nd minute Cork were 1-9 to 0-3 in front. The Limerick forwards couldn’t cope with the pressure they were under and Pat Ryan fired a seventh wide.
But the Limerick goal arrived in the 26th minute. Ryan got through and hand-passed to Casey who blazed a shot low to Patrick Collins’ bottom left corner.
Diarmaid Byrnes and Gearoid Hegarty scored points as well but Horgan hit two late frees and Cork were 1-13 to 1-7 ahead at half-time.
Limerick made the ideal start to the second half with points from Casey, Dowling (free), Byrnes (free) and Flanagan.
Dan Dooley’s second stemmed the flow and Lehane rattled the Limerick net in the 45th minute after he raced through the heart of the defence. Lehane almost scored a second goal four minutes but his shot came back off the post.
Casey and Dowling (two) brought Limerick back within touching distance, and Cork began to fire wides too.
Limerick scored six points in a row with Byrnes levelling it in the 66th minute. But Cork finished well and a couple of Cormac Murphy scores sealed the win.
Scorers for Cork: Pat Horgan 1-9 (0-9f), Conor Lehane 1-1, Dan Dooley, Seamus Harnedy, Cormac Murphy, Daniel Kearney 0-2 each, Tim O’Mahony (0-1f), Bill Cooper, Aidan Walsh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Dowling 0-6 (0-3f), Peter Casey 1-3, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 ’65), Seamus Flanagan 0-2, Gearoid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, Cian Lynch, Graeme Mulcahy 0-1 each.
Cork
1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
2. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
5. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum)
7. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
8. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
9. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
10. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)
11. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
12. Dan Dooley (Bride Rovers)
13. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
14. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
Subs
22. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields) for Dooley (60)
17. Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) for Downey (65)
Limerick
1. Nicky Quaid (Effin)
2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
3. Sean Finn (Bruff)
4. Richie English (Doon)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
7. Mikey O’Brien (Doon)
8. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
9. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s)
11. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh)
15. Pat Ryan (Doon)
Subs
22. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Ryan (48)
23. Barry Murphy (Doon) for Flanagan (56)
19. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for T Morrissey (67)
24. Barry Nash (South Liberties) for O’Brien (69).
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).
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cork needed the win more …limerick competed …both sides will be happy at this stage in the year .
Dont know where ye got the stat that limerick were looking to secure their 5th victory on the bounce over cork. Their last 2 meetings were draws
@domas1507: Getting bate after extra time doesn’t count no?
@Padraig McElligott: actually no. The game us officially recorded as a draw if its level at full time. The extra time is to decide who goes forward but the game is officially a draw
@domas1507: Limerick beat Cork on the day officially or otherwise. The last two meetings between the two sides before today – one draw and one Limerick victory. You don’t draw your way into an All Ireland Final.
@Padraig McElligott: we all know ye won so congratulations again and again and again
@Padraig McElligott: So they weren’t going for their 5th victory on the bounce. Thanks for clearing that up.
Should have been thr result in last year’s semi-final…
@Forfar So Good: Hmmm juicy lemons….
@Colm O’Sullivan: Thought i might get someone to bite:-)
@Forfar So Good: aaaaw
Cork deserved the win. They have found a centre back in Tim O’Mahony. He was my man of the match. Limerick could never get into their stride like in previous weeks, and when they did they gifted Cork their second goal. The two new boys, Dooley for Cork and O’Brien for Limerick both performed well. It’s the kickstart that Cork needed and a kick up the backside that Limerick will eventually welcome.
@Colm O’Sullivan: thats probably the best thing said about the game. Fair play
Unbelievable win for Cork against the greatest team to ever play the game and shoe ins for the all Ireland.
Hopefully results like this will help the game develop in developing hurling counties like Cork etc
@damien o brien: :-))))))
@damien o brien: lol
@damien o brien: such unwarranted bitterness and condescension. Well done Cork the better team won today.
There will be absolutely nothing in it if these teams were to meet in the championship.
Will do Limerick no harm at all to taste defeat
@Alan Fitzgerald: Ah jaysus Alan go out and get a bit of air I’d say..
That limerick fella isn’t saying much now!!!!
Great win for Cork, who could have had a few more goals. Held on when it looked for all the money Limerick were going to go through them.
That’s a great result for Cork, winning away to the All-Ireland champions.
Sluggish display from Limerick, did well to draw it back level but missed chances proved costly in the end.
On to Ennis next week now.
So we have a championship after all !! This time last week they were handing Liam to Limerick ….
@David O’Neill: Not really. Prior to Limerick beating Kilkenny and to a lesser degree Tipp, the media have spent pre season telling everyone how Limerick will struggle to get out of Munster let alone mount a title challenge again. Only when they beat Kilkenny did the media have to eat their words and back peddle somewhat to give this team some credit. Any Limerick fan will tell you that they’ll treat every game in Munster and on like a cup final, however we’re tired of being brandished nothing more than a team that “gives 100% commitment”, though plenty of that it’s high time they recognise the skill levels of our hurlers.
@No: Limerick are a serious team and as you say Munster is a minefield but how these journalists make predictions like that in February is beyond me !!! What i will say is 6 or 7 teams will feel they can win it this year !!
@No: You’re a bit over the top there. Nobody is brandishing Limerick like you say. Everyone recognises their skill levels. But they’re starting with a clean slate this year. They’ve a 60% chance of coming out of Munster. No more nor no less than the other 4 counties.
Should’ve been a draw. I don’t begrudge cork there win . But the ref gave limerick a free in 5 from the end …. he hadn’t seen the hand pass to Cian Lynch who was thundering down on the goals with only the keeper to beat ….and he knows he made a mistake (an should have played the advantage) because he wrapped both hands around his head!!
Big scalp for Cork hurlers today.
@Anyone But Cork: actually was cheers. Considering the last few results. Thanks for your support. ; )
Martin Brennan won’t know what to do with himself now tonight with that win!!
Cork needed that big time and that defeat could well be a blessing in disguise for Limerick considering the way they have been built up in the last couple of weeks. Limerick have proved they can win an All-Ireland and will be there or thereabouts again this year. Hopefully Cork improve from last year but still think we are a couple of players short.