Cork 0-20
Limerick 0-18
Stephen Walsh reports from Páirc Uí Rinn
CORK RETAINED THE Munster intermediate hurling title for the second year in a row after a two point victory in Páirc Ui Rinn in front of 1,774 spectators tonight.
Cork had the better start getting the scoreboard moving going 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after nine minutes. Limerick relied on four pointed frees from Willie Griffin throughout the opening half to stay within range of the defending Munster champions.
Cork dominated proceedings with further points from the accurate Noel McNamara and Murphy who proved a handful for Limerick’s defence.
The Limerick midfield won possession nearing half time and senior panellist Tom Morrissey made best use of the ball scoring four points to leave Limerick trailing 0-11 to 0-8 at the break against the wind.
The visitors used the wind to their best of their advantage in the second half with Diarmaid Byrnes excelling for Limerick at centre back scoring 0-5.
Cork was reliant on McNamara’s frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over to put 0-16 to 0-12 ahead on 43 minutes. Cork substitute Kevin O’Neill scored two points to keep the lead to five points.
With five to go Limerick were five down and despite reducing the lead to two points with points from Byrnes and Mike Fitzgibbon, time ran out ensuring Cork retained the cup.
Scorers for Cork: Noel McNamara (0-8, 7f), Tony Murphy (0-4), Willie Leahy, Kevin O’Neill, Donncha O’Donovan (2f) (0-2 each), Michael Collins, Shane McCarthy, (0-1 each)
Scorers for Limerick: Willie Griffin (4f), Diarmuid Byrnes (2f) (0-5 each,) Tom Morrissey (0-4), Robert O’Donnell, Richie English, Mike Fitzgibbon, Darragh O’Donovan (0-1 each)
Cork
1. Paudgie Buckley (Mallow)
2. Barra Ó Tuama (Castlemartyr)
3. Ed Finn (Ballinhassig)
4. Greg Murphy (Newcestown)
5. Kevin Kavanagh (Carrigaline) (Capt)
6. Donnacha O’Donovan (Ballinhassig)
7. Tomas Lawerence (Brian Dillons)
8. Martin Brennan (Fermoy)
9. Shane McCarthy (Ballinhassig)
10. Willie Leahy (Aghada)
11. Michael Collins (Ballinhassig)
12. Luke Meade (Newcestown)
13. Noel McNamara (Kilworth)
14. Fintan O’Leary (Ballinhassig)
15. Tony Murphy (Carrigaline)
Subs
20 Kevin O’Neill (Watergrasshill) for Brennan (31)
19 Ciaran O’Brien (St. Ita’s) for Finn (38)
23 Andrew Cagney (Charleville) for O’Leary (55)
21 Aaron Sheehan for McNamara (59)
Limerick
1. Brian Murray (Patrickswell)
2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Barry O’Connell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)
4. Mike Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)
5. Denis Moloney (Doon)
6. Diarmuid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
7. Barry Lynch (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
8. Robert O’Donnell (Pallasgreen)
9. Andrew Brennan (Caherline)
10. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
11. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell)
12. Mark Carmody (Patrickswell)
13. Willie Griffin (Adare)
14. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
15. Mike Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
Subs
22 Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh) for K O’Brien (27)
21 Richie English (Doon) for Moloney (37)
19 Mike Fitzgerald (Doon) for Griffin (42)
23 Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen) for O’Donovan (57)
Referee: Damien Fox (Clare)
What a left hook
@Joe Bloggs: what a chin
I watched this live. The punch from Uzcategui was after the bell. Dirrell himself showed allot class and sportsmanship, approaching Uzcategui to say he forgave him. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for Dirrell’s corner. They started a fight at ringside and then when they eventually got in the ring Dirrell’s uncle carried out this cowardly attack on Uzcategui.
Hopefully he was arrested immediate after and charged with assault.
@SYM-Metal: UPDATE: There is an official police report filed. Mr Leon Lawson is wanted on 2 counts of assault in the 1st and 2nd degree,by the state of Maryland.
Mr Lawson was not arrested at the scene and is still at large. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
@SYM-Metal: The bell went when he was swinging. Fair enough it did connect after which is illegal but I don’t think it was 100% intentional.
As for Andre Dirrell, the guy has absolutely no balls whatsoever. It’s sickening how much of a quitter he is. Absolute play acting pretending he couldn’t continue as he knew he had a chance of a DQ win if he quit, it wasn’t as if he was caught with a sucker punch, they were still fighting. He was even getting up and decided to go back down. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt had he not done something similar against Arthur Abraham.
As for his uncle that was despicable, kind of funny I can’t lie, but horrible.
@SYM-Metal: I thought it was marginal if it was late. I think the refs positioning was poor in that situation with dirrell being backed in the corner and uzcategui letting his hands go with the round almost over the ref should have been right on the action,instead of a few yards away. A fighter in the mode of a combo is unlikely to just be able tot stop it when he is already in motion, talking about milliseconds in this instance.
@Seamus Cummins: you could hear Dirrell’s corner telling him to stay down
DJ Khaled should have done more to prevent that
Classy stuff.
Uncle Bam
Poor Dirrell can never catch a break.
@Leon: I think he’s the one catching the breaks and making the most of them.