Oisin O Reilly and Colin Ryan after the game at Pairc Ui Rinn.
Bord Gais Energy Munster U-21 Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Limerick 3-19 Cork 2-15
By Denis Hurley at Pairc Ui Rinn
Limerick’s seven-point winning margin in this Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC quarter-final at Páirc Uí Rinn flattered Cork somewhat, yet the game was still in the balance into injury time.
With nine minutes of normal time left, John Kiely’s visitors had a 2-18 to 0-13 advantage after substitute Oisín O’Reilly, barely on the pitch a minute, sent a rasping shot beyond Patrick Collins and into the Cork net.
Having led by 1-12 to 0-12 at half-time, the Shannonsiders had put on a demonstration since half-time as Cork were frustrated in their efforts to eat into the gap, but with the large advantage came a certain level of complacency.
The wides tally, stuck on four since half-time, began to mount liberally from the three-quarter mark on, but it appeared that their place in the semi-final against Tipperary wasn’t in doubt, even allowing for two Mark Coleman points for Cork.
Limerick midfielder Darragh O’Donovan, a bundle of energy, responded with his second of the game and Shane Kingston’s goal for Cork on 57 looked to be just a consolation. As injury time dawned though, Coleman netted another for the Rebels and suddenly there were just four points in it.
A Mark O’Connor delivery to the square might have yielded an unlikely third goal but Limerick conceded a 65, which came to nothing. From the puckout, sub Jack Quaid found O’Reilly, who gleefully finished for his second goal and the security of victory.
Pa O Callaghan and Barry Nash in action at Pairc Ui Rinn.
In many ways, the second half reflected the first. Limerick, with Cian Lynch dropping back to centre-back in a switch with his namesake Ronan, were rampant, the latter Lynch with a 10th minute goal after Barry Nash’s run.
Pat Ryan alongside O’Donovan at midfield had three good points too and by the end of the first quarter it was 1-8 to 0-2 for the men in green. As would happen later, a certain sloppiness prevented Limerick from heading out of sight and Cork ground their way back into it, with Shane Kington and Pa O’Callaghan getting important points.
Kingston’s fifth free in injury time made it 1-11 to 0-12 but Cian Lynch had the final score of the half. While the Lynches reverted back to their selected positions for the second half, Ronan Lynch was still able to send over three important frees as part of a five-point burst to again leave Limerick in command.
O’Reilly’s first goal looked to be the final confirmation of that but, while Cork were given a sniff again, it was Limerick’s night.
Scorers for Limerick: R Lynch 1-8 (6fs, 1 65, 1 sideline), O O'Reilly 2-0, P Ryan 0-3, B Nash, C Lynch, D O'Donovan 0-2 each, T Morrissey, P Casey 0-1 each.
**Scorers for Cork: **S Kingston 1-6 (5fs), M Coleman 1-2, P O'Callaghan 0-3, C Twomey, N Cashman, A Spillane, D Noonan 0-1 each.
Limerick: E McNamara; S Flanagan, R English, M Casey; C Ryan, C Lynch, A La Touche Cosgrave; D O’Donovan, P Ryan; R Lynch, B Nash, D Dempsey; P Casey, T Morrissey, A Gilane. Subs: B Murphy for Gillane (half-time), O O’Reilly for Morrissey (50), L Lyons for Nash (55), J Quaid for Dempsey (59).
Cork: P Collins; D Browne, S O’Donoghue, D Griffin; R Cahalane, M Coleman, C Twomey; N Cashman, D Noonan; D Fitzgibbon, S Kingston, P O’Callaghan; L Meade, T O’Mahony, A Spillane.
Subs: D Lee for Cashman (28), C O’Leary for Noonan (41), M O’Halloran for O’Mahony (45), C Cormack for Meade (48), M O'Connor for Lee (55).
Referee: R McGann (Clare).
