CORK CLINCH A SPOT IN FINAL
1-16 Limerick 0-11
JOHN O’ROURKE scored the goal as Cork moved one step closer to their first Munster SFC title since 2012 with an eightpoint win over Limerick.
Brian Hurley tagged on 0-6 and it turned into a decisive win for Ronan Mccarthy’s men at the LIT Gaelic Grounds.
Cork were 1-6 to 0-4 in front at half-time and, bolstered by their impressive bench, a clinical finish sealed the win.
“We got the job done and that is what we came to do,” said Mccarthy.
Cork had a slight breeze in the first half but Limerick scored the opening point through Gordon Brown.
But the next score was crucial while Limerick goalkeeper Donal O Sullivan went off injured. Cork full-back Daniel O’mahony started the move that eventually ended up with Ruairi Deane setting up John O’rourke to finish at the second attempt.
After the lengthy stoppage both sides continued to probe with the next points coming from Hugh Bourke and Brian Hurley.
Limerick seemed to have a cutting edge up front and, despite Robbie Burke’s miss from a free, they mounted the pressure with Bourke’s latest success.
Maguire cancelled that out and Cork took a narrow 1-2 to 0-3 lead into the first water break. The scoring was low but the intensity was massive – emphasised by Danny Neville’s fantastic workrate to get back and block down Paul Walsh.
Luke Connolly and Neville hit some poor wides at either end and that only added to the intrigue with neither team having scored in over 10 minutes.
Limerick had to wait 15 minutes for their fourth point and it was Bourke again from a free, with Hurley replying with his second success from a free. Corner-back Sean Powter got upfield to push Cork three points in front for the first time.
And with five minutes of additional time at the end of the half, Cork pulled away as Powter (inset) and Mattie Taylor scored another couple. Their lead at half-time stood at five points, O’rourke and Hurley scoring either side of a Neville effort on the resumption.
Points from Bourke and Aaron O’sullivan kept Limerick in contention but two quickfire scores courtesy of Hurley and O’rourke were momentum breakers.
Cork were 1-11 to 0-9 ahead at the final water break and Limerick collapsed. Cian Kiely, Hurley and Sean Meehan added scores and the result was beyond doubt. Cork: M Martin; S Powter (0-2), D O’mahony, K Flahive; K O’donovan, S Meehan (0-1), M Taylor (0-1); I Maguire (0-1), P Walsh; B Hartnett; R Deane, J O’rourke (1-3); L Connolly, B Hurley (0-6, 4f), D O Duinnin. Subs: C Kiely (0-23) for Powter 42; B Murphy for O’mahony 51; K O’driscoll for Walsh 46; M Hurley for O’rourke 62; M Collins for Connolly 60. Limerick: D O Sullivan; S O’dea, B Fanning, M Donovan; B Childs, I Corbett (0-2), G Brown (0-1); D Treacy, T Childs; C Sheehan, C Fahy, A Enright; D Neville (0-2), R Burke, H Bourke (0-5, 5f). Subs: A O’sullivan (0-1, 45) for D O Sullivan 6; P Maher for Childs 55; K Ryan for Sheehan 44; J Ryan for Fahy 60; J Naughton for Enright 44; B Donovan for Burke 35; Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).