Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SUB OF THE GREEN
Super save and 2-6 off bench seal final place for brave Limerick..
THIS was a special kind of hurling rope-a-dope, a gritty comeback that presented Limerick with a second swing at glory. And they took it.
The weekend’s second semifinal had so much to live up to. Boy, did it deliver.
OK, so it didn’t go right down to the wire in extra-time, not like the Galway-clare slug-fest of 24 hours earlier.
But what this game had that the first semi didn’t was a definitive outcome – and it was Limerick who emerged at the end of an enthralling heavyweight bout at Croke Park.
Cian Lynch’s goal just before half-time had gifted the Shannonsiders a one-point lead going into the break. But Aaron Gillane had missed two great goal chances in a frenetic opening period after losing his hurley in the aerial battle with Colm Spillane, kicking the first over Anthony Nash’s goal before skewing the second wide.
Cork took full advantage and, by the 63rd minute, Limerick were staring a fourth semi-final defeat in nine years in the face.
Having used their experience to build a six-point lead, Cork were firmly in the ascendency by the 63rd minute.
John Meyler’s decision to switch Conor Lehane from the corner into the centre delivered a chain reaction that made the Rebels irresistable.
But by the time the contest entered in the fourth and last minute of injury time, the Rebels needed Patrick Horgan’s cool hands to deliver the equalising score that would send the game into extra-time.
Back from the dead, Limerick were not going to break. Not this time. “Back at the start of November, we did a boxing fundraiser,” skipper Declan Hannon explained afterwards.
“We kinda went at each other on the night of it and it just built morale and a bond that hasn’t been broken this year. Everybody has just bought into what we’re trying to do. That’s the main difference, to be honest.”
The momentum belonged to Limerick and they powered to victory over the two additional 10 minute periods.
Limerick’s bench had yielded in 2-10 in Championship battle prior to the semi-final, and, in the Shannonsiders’ time of need, John Kiely’s subs coaxed the phoenix from the flames, scoring a crucial 2-6 between four of them.
It was Shane Dowling’s introduction in 57 minutes that provided the spark Limerick so badly needed.
Dowling had a knee operation in November and suffered Croke Park disappointment on St Patrick’s Day, when Na Piarsaigh were beaten in the Allireland club final by Cuala. He
lost his starting place with Limerick thereafter, but yesterday he made the difference, and not just with his 1-4 total.
Dowling was a beacon of calm as the Shannonsiders reeled in Cork’s lead, before Gillane, with the latest in a number of nerveless frees, put Limerick ahead with only seconds remaining.
Just moments earlier, Cork captain Seamus Harnedy had been denied a match-clinching goal when Nicky Quaid superbly denied the full-forward as he was about to pull the trigger.
Still, Cork weren’t finished and when Lehane won a free in midfield with mere seconds left, Pat Horgan wasted no time in firing it over the bar. And so, to extra-time.
Harnedy limped off and it was Limerick who seized the initiative, despite Gillane missing a third great goal chance just two minutes in when set up by Dowling.
However, Limerick were not to be denied and, three minutes into the second half of extratime
Dowling was impeded by Mark Ellis as he charged in on goal.
Referee Paud O’dwyer awarded a penalty.
Dowling nervelessly sent Anthony Nash the wrong way and, when Pat Ryan delightfully chipped in Limerick’s third goal soon after, they were out of sight – Cork’s second goal in the last seconds just consolation.