Minors not that far off the pace in another barren year

the pace this year, and players like Josh Beausang (St Colman’s), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue), Eoghan Clifford (Cloughduv) and Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh) performed particularly well over the two games.

If the Cork minors competed admirably in 2016, the same could hardly be said for the Under-21 team, as they were dumped out of the championship in the first round by Limerick at Pairc Uí Rinn.

Humiliated by Waterford the previous year, it was expected Cork might fare out a bit better against the Shannonsiders, who, parading ten of the team that had lifted the All-Ireland in 2015, went into the game as warm favourites at the same time.

Despite displaying commendable commitment, however, Cork simply couldn’t cope with they quality that Limerick brought to the table, which enabled them to forge 0-7 to 0-1 ahead inside ten minutes.

Credit to Cork, they refused to drop their heads following a potentially, disastrous start, and the input from such as Mark Coleman (Blarney) and Conor Twomey (Newtowntownshandrum) in the half back line, and Shane Kingston (Douglas) and particularly Pa O’Callaghan (Ballyhea) up front helped them to get back into the hunt before half time.

Turning over 1-12 to 0-12 in arrears, Cork soon found themselves on the backfoot again, as Limerick smoothly stretched the gap to eleven points with ten minutes remaining.

A couple of goals from Mark Coleman and Shane Kingston threw Cork - for whom Darren Browne (Knaturk), Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) and David Griffin (Carrigaline) kept their end up fairly well in the full back line - a lifeline in the closing stages, but it would be fair to say they looked out of their depth anytime the visitors decided to move into overdrive.

With Limerick bagging a late goal, it was 3-19 to 2-15 at the finish, and had they shown a little more urgency in their play over the hour, their victory would surely have been even more emphatic. The result meant that Cork’s famine at Under-21 level continues, and not since 2007 has a provincial title been brought to Leeside in this grade.

There was no joy either for Cork’s intermediate hurlers this year, as they shipped a 3-20 to 1-15 defeat from Tipperary in the opening round of the Munster championship.