Cork have to give way to strong Limerick display

Cork 1-17 Limerick 2-25 Limerick, after a shaky start, had an 8 point win over Cork in the Munster SHC round robin round 1 encounter at Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday.

Cork opened with a goal after 20 seconds when Conor Cahalane worked well for Shane Kingston who netted. Good play by Damian Cahalane and Tim O’Mahony led to a Shane Barrett point. A foul on Robbie O’Flynn saw Patrick Horgan point the resulting free - 1-2 to 0-0.

In the 7th minute Diarmuid Byrnes opened Limerick’s account with a long range free. Good play by the impressive Gearoid Hegarty led to another point by Byrnes. The same player had his 3rd point on the spin when pointing a free in the 9th minute.

Further Limerick pressure saw Barry Nash point. Patrick Horgan kept Cork ahead with a free. Aaron Gillane forced Cork ‘keeper Pa Collins to save well. In the 15th minute Kyle Hayes cut through the centre and goaled as Limerick moved ahead. They were level 1-4 and 1-5 apiece by the 20th minute.

Tim O’Mahony edged Cork ahead 1-6 to 1-5 and Patrick Horgan added a free. In the 29th minute Dan Morrissey worked well for Tom Morrissey who pointed. Ger Hegarty levelled at 1- 7 apiece and by the 3lst minute, the sides were deadlocked for the fourth time, 1-8 each. Limerick then had their second goal when Kyle Hayes worked well for Alan Gillane who netted. Cian Lynch with a late point had Limerick 2-9 to 1-8 clear at half-time.

DOMINANT LIMERICK

Early in the second half Cork, with a series of points, drew parity 2-9 to 1-12. The winners followed with 3 points that put them 2-12 to 1-12 ahead. Limerick moved 6 points clear 2-17 to 1-14, having had 14 wides to 10 for Cork, with 12 minutes remaining. Patrick Horgan and Barry Nash swopped a point, however Limerick finished strongly, adding five late points to just two for the Rebels.

This Saturday Limerick have a home game against Waterford, while Cork have a free weekend.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-4 (0-2f), Diarmuid Byrnes 0-6 (0-3f), Kyle Hayes 1-1, Gearoid Hegarty 0-3, Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Cian Lynch 0-2, Barry Nash 0-2, David Reidy 0-1, Pat Ryan 0-1, Tom Morrissey 0-1, Dan Morrissey 0-1, Declan Hannon 0-1.

Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-9 (0-8f), Shane Kingston 1-0, Conor Lehane 0-2, Shane Barrett 0-2, Robbie O’Flynn 0-2, Tim O’Mahony 0-1, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-1.

Limerick: Nicky Quaid (Effin), Barry Nash (South Liberties), Sean Finn (Bruff), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Diarmuid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (Adare), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), William O’Donoghuie (Na Piarsaigh), Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Aaron Gillane ( Patrickswell), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock). Subs: Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Mainistir) for Tom Morrissey, David Reidy (DrominAthlacca) for Darragh O’Donovan, Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock) for Kyle Hayes, Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for Gearoid Hegarty, Pat Ryan (Doon) for Graeme Mulcahy.

Cork: Pa Collins (Ballinhassig), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Damian Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s), Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Mark Coleman (Blarney), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s), Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Conor Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Conor Lehane (Midleton). Subs: Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s) for Conor Cahalane, Robert Downey (Glen Rovers) for Sean O’Donoghue (blood), Sean O’Donoghue for Damian Cahalane, Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields) for Shane Kingston, Alan Connolly (Blackrock) for Shane Barrett, Luke Meade (Newcestown) for Conor Lehane.

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).