Limerick progress to another Munster final
Limerick 3-25 Cork 1-30
This was another tremendous Munster Senior Hurling Championship game at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Sunday. With Clare already in the Munster final they were to be joined by either Tipperary or the winner of the Cork v Limerick encounter. The game attracted over 40,000 spectators.
Declan Dalton opened the scoring from a free following a foul on Sean O'Donoghue. Limerick had four wides by the 4th minute. Good play by Patrick Collins to Seamus Harnedy led to a Tim O'Mahony point for Cork. Aaron Gillane opened Limerick's account after 6 minutes and Ger Hegarty and Tom Morrissey added rapid points, before the impressive Darragh O'Donoghue struck two points, leaving the scoreline at 0-5 to 0-3.
Shane Kingston kept Cork in touch. Good play by Kyle Hayes to Aaron Gillane led to a very good save by Patrick Collins. Barry Nash had a long range point for Limerick, whose wing backs Diarmuid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes were now commanding figures. However, Cork levelled at 0-7 each when Patrick Horgan and Declan Dalton had points. Luke Meade edged Cork in front after good play by Robert Downey. They had a third point in a row when Seamus Harnedy worked well for Darragh Fitzgibbon, who made it 0-9 to 0-7.
Further Cork pressure led to another point by Harnedy, with Ciaran Joyce and Declan Dalton working well for Fitzgibbon, who put Cork 0-11 to 0-7 ahead. Peter Casey replied for the home side, however Patrick Horgan restored Cork’s 4 point lead.
Limerick then hit a purple patch, Gillane pointed and the same player placed Seamus Flanagan for a goal that levelled the tie in the 23rd minute, now 0-12 to 1-9. Two minutes later Patrick Horgan edged Cork ahead and Robert Downey opened up a two point lead. Both sides exchanged points, with Limerick having a goal by Cathal O'Neill, that levelled the encounter for the 4th time (2-10 to 0-16). Two points each by Aaron Gillane and Patrick Horgan had the sides deadlocked at half-time 2-12 to 0-18.
CORK COMEBACK NOT ENOUGH
For the second half, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Seamus Harnedy were at midfield. Diarmuid Byrnes pointed and Cork levelled when Luke Meade placed Patrick Horgan, who pointed. Cork had another Darragh Fitzgibbon point. Limerick hit a purple patch and had rapid points from Diarmuid Byrnes and Declan Hannon, followed by a goal from a Diarmuid Byrnes penalty that edged them 3-15 to 0-20 ahead.
Cork came back well. They had four points from Patrick Horgan (2), Shane Kingston and Seamus Harnedy, while Darragh O'Donovan pointed for Limerick. Three points in succession for Limerick from Ger Hegarty, Diarmuid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes gave Limerick a good lead after 54 minutes, 3-19 to 0-24.
Aaron Gillane with a point opened up a five point lead. Cork's goal came very late in the 60th minute from Patrick Horgan, as they trailed 3-22 to 1-24. Points for the Rebels by Patrick Horgan and Darragh Fitzgibbon gave slight hope, as both sides continued to exchange points. However, Limerick held firm by the narrowest of margins to secure the win.
TEAMS
Cork: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig), Sean O'Donoghue (Inniscarra), Damian Cahalane (St Finbarr's), Niall O'Leary (Castlelyons), Ger Millerick (Fr O'Neills), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers – 0-1), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Luke Meade (Newcestown – 0-1), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville – 0-4), Tim O'Mahony (Newtownshandrum – 0-1), Seamus Harnedy (St Ita's – 0-4), Declan Dalton (Fr O'Neill's - 0-3, 0-2f), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers - 1-14, 0-11f), Shane Kingston (Douglas – 0-2). Subs: Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr's) for Luke Meade (blood), Luke Meade for Ethan Twomey, Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's) for Brian Roche, Conor Lehane (Midleton) for Tim O'Mahony, Padraig Power (Blarney) for Shane Kingston, Ethan Twomey for Luke Meade.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid (Effin), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Nash (South Liberties – 0-1), Diarmuid Byrnes (Patrickswell - 1-4; 1-0 pen, 0-1 '65'), Declan Hannon (Adare – 0-1), Kyle Hayes (KildimoPallaskenry – 0-1), Darragh O'Donovan (Doon – 0-3), William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh – 0-1), Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick's – 0-3), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Mainistir – 1-0), Tom Morrissey (Ahane – 0-2), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh – 0-1), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon – 1-3), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell - 0-5; 0-2f). Subs: Richie English (Doon) for Declan Hannon, David Reidy (DrominAthlacca) for Cathal O'Neill, Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) for Mike Casey, Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Peter Casey, Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for Darragh O'Donovan.
Referee was James Owens (Wexford).