Limerick round off league with strong finish to land final success over Cork

by · The42

Fintan O'Toole Reports from TUS Gaelic Grounds

Limerick 1-27

Cork 1-21

THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT statement of the hurling year made by Limerick.

They concluded league matters with the collection of silverware, the eventual six-point margin illustrative of their superiority on league final day.

Limerick led from pillar to post here. Cork made it interesting by getting within two points on a couple of occasions in the last ten minutes, but Limerick were unnerved and  timed their burst well for the finish line.

Alan Connolly knocked over his seventh pointed free of the afternoon in the 66th minute for Cork, yet from there Limerick won the remainder of the contest 0-5 to 0-1. It was a telling response. Gearoid Hegarty made a powerful contribution in that closing phase, while Aaron Gillane struck three points in the finale to bring his overall tally to 1-7.

The summary of the first half can be neatly package into separate sections. Limerick were ahead 1-11 to 1-2 after the opening quarter, reflecting their formidable power all over the pitch that was overwhelming Cork.

Then Cork outscored them 0-8 to 0-2 for the remainder of the first half, reviving a challenge that was flagging and clawing their way back into the game. For Cork being only 1-13 to 1-10 adrift at the break was a heartening position considering their sluggish start to the game.

Limerick were left with regrets at the midway mark. Aidan O’Connor struck two frees wide and left another short in the hand of Patrick Collins. The Cork goalkeeper was an active figure as he flicked an early Aaron Gillane shot around the post, blocked another close-range effort from Cian Lynch, and then was grateful for the covering hook of Tommy O’Connell on Adam English as the Doon man was poised to sweep a shot to the net.

There were two green flags raised, products of a moment that was ridiculous and a moment that was sublime. Cork trailed 0-6 to 0-0 after Limerick’s explosive start when Diarmaid Byrnes gathered possession on the left-hand side of his goal. Nickie Quaid had darted to the opposite wing in expectation of receiving a pass but Byrnes execution was poor as he underhit the delivery and Brian Hayes intervened to bat the ball into an unguarded goalmouth.

That gave Cork a lifeline but Limerick were undeterred as they moved impressively through the gears, rattling over points and then their start was adorned by Gillane’s genius in the 18th minute, accelerating clear of the cover and hammering a fierce shot to the far corner.

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Cork were staggering yet managed to steady themselves. Connolly clipped over five pointed frees as they chipped away at the deficit, Hayes was a handful in possession for the Limerick defence, and captain Darragh Fitzgibbon floated over a glorious shot from the right wing on the half-hour mark.

More to follow…

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-7 (0-3f), Aidan O’Connor 0-8 (0-7f, 0-1 ’65), Adam English 0-3, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (0-1f, 0-1 ’65), Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Gearoid Hegarty 0-2, Shane O’Brien 0-1, David Reidy 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (0-7f), Brian Hayes 1-3, William Buckley 0-3, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-2, Tim O’Mahony 0-2 (0-1f), Mark Coleman 0-1, Hugh O’Connor 0-1, Tommy O’Connell 0-1, Séamus Harnedy 0-1.

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Seán Finn (Bruff), 3. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), 7. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

8. Adam English (Doon), 9. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)

10. Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), 11. Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown), 12. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister)

13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 14. Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), 15. David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca)

Subs

  • 17. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Neill (temp) (32)
  • O’Neill for Casey (half-time)
  • 17. Casey for O’Brien (53)
  • 25. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon) for O’Connor (57)
  • 21. Ethan Hurley (Newcastlewest) for Lynch (67)
  • 18. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) for Byrnes (73)

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Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), 3. Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), 4. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)

7. Micheál Mullins (Glen Rovers), 5. Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), 6. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers),

8. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), 9. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)

10. Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), 11. Shane Barrett (Blarney), 12. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), 

13. William Buckley (St Finbarr’s), 14. Alan Connolly (Blackrock), 15. Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s)

Subs

  • 17. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills) for O’Donoghue (inj) (36)
  • 19. Mark Coleman (Blarney) for Mullins (48)
  • 22. Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket) for Harnedy (50)
  • 23. Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own) for O’Connell (62)
  • 25. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills) for Buckley (68)
  • 18. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) for Robert Downey (72)

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)

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