Munster SHC: Cork overcome Limerick in thriller

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

CORK 2-22 LIMERICK 1-23

By Stephen Barry, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Three stoppage-time points saw Cork gain another championship triumph over 14-man Limerick after a drama-packed tussle in front of 43,369 fans at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Treaty, who were already without Aaron Gillane due to injury, played the last 20 minutes a man down after Cian Lynch was sent off for an off-the-ball striking incident. John Kiely’s men now face the prospect of heading to Clare minus two Hurlers of the Year.

Having downed the All-Ireland champions last weekend, the Rebels got one over on the league holders in the sixth Cork-Limerick clash to attract a sold-out crowd in the past 24 months.

They are sitting pretty on two wins from two with a week off before heading for Waterford on Saturday, May 9.

The goalposts were shifted for this derby renewal by the news that league final man of the match Gillane sustained a calf injury at training on Tuesday. Limerick called upon Peter Casey in his place.

Ciarán Joyce was designated a man-marking role on Shane O’Brien, but the new Cork full-back buckled over in the third minute and was withdrawn for Damien Cahalane.

The hosts must’ve targeted a fast start given they leaked the first six points in the league final. Limerick didn’t grant them any leeway, reeling off five in a row here.

Diarmaid Byrnes gave a fist pump to the North Stand crowd when launching the first inside 15 seconds. Gearóid Hegarty caught Cork napping to receive a quick sideline and convert. Adam English and Cathal O’Neill were also left in pockets of space to score.

In the 10th minute, Cork got up and running through a fine Brian Hayes effort out by the sideline. Darragh Fitzgibbon loaded up for their next, but Limerick reeled off four more without reply.

Hegarty’s hook and Mike Casey’s block on Barry Walsh were rewarded with O’Brien’s second point. After a couple of shaky moments, Aidan O’Connor sparked to life with three in succession, including two from play. By that juncture, the men in green led by 0-9 to 0-2.

Yet from minutes 18 to 25, Cork returned serve with a 1-4 burst to draw level. Tim O’Mahony and Alan Connolly nailed their first frees.

Then, Seán Finn landed William O’Donoghue in hot water in front of goal. The centre-back couldn’t control and came under immediate pressure from Shane Barrett. Connolly picked up the loose ball and offloaded it for Barrett to thump low to the net. Connolly and William Buckley soon levelled; 0-10 to 1-7.

Fitzgibbon’s second long-range missile, a Connolly free, compensating for a prior miss, and Brian Hayes’s second brought Cork all square three further times.

But Limerick ended the half better. O’Brien popped the sliotar over Cahalane’s head for one point and O’Neill added another. They led 0-16 to 1-11 into the break.

Both teams carved out goal chances on the resumption. Brian Hayes knocked the sliotar away from Finn, but Nickie Quaid saved his batted effort. Hegarty then fed Peter Casey, who was denied by the advancing Patrick Collins.

O’Connor’s 65 nudged Limerick three clear, but their next four shots flew wide. By the time they scored again, nine minutes later, they were behind.

In that time, Cork picked up 1-2. The 45th-minute goal saw Collins evade a near-hook by Peter Casey to drive the sliotar long down the South Stand sideline. Brian Hayes fended off Finn and drew Barry Nash before releasing Connolly in behind. The Blackrock forward carried the ball in before dispatching past Quaid, who picked up a yellow card for the collision as Connolly was temporarily replaced.

After Casey brought Limerick back within one, 2-14 to 0-19, they suffered another blow. Lynch was red-carded for swinging his hurley back at O’Mahony off the ball under the nose of James Owens.

Barry Walsh was denied by Quaid, who was then punished for lying on the ball. After two Fitzgibbon frees, 14-man Limerick didn’t allow Cork to rub two scores together until stoppage time.

That meant they were still in range when Byrnes came upfield to take a 21-yard free, which was moved in for Cork dissent. John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk signalled to take the point, but the wing-back either didn’t see or ignored the instruction. It paid off as he snuck it low under Collins.

Limerick now led 1-23 to 2-19 with two minutes remaining plus five more added on. Cork would cancel out the goal with Connolly pointing frees, won by Fitzgibbon and Mark Coleman, before the Charleville captain added an insurance score in the 75th minute.

That meant Darragh O’Donovan had to lob in a last-gasp free. Once it was repelled, the celebrations began among the home faithful.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 1-8 (0-7f); Shane Barrett 1-2; Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-5 (2f); William Buckley, Brian Hayes 0-2 each; Eoin Downey, Tim O’Mahony (free), Tommy O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 0-7 (3f, 1 65); Diarmaid Byrnes 1-2 (1-0 free); Cathal O’Neill 0-4; Peter Casey, Shane O’Brien 0-3 each; Adam English, Gearóid Hegarty 0-2 each.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Seán O’Donoghue; Mark Coleman, Robert Downey, Eoin Downey; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett, Barry Walsh; Alan Connolly, William Buckley, Brian Hayes. Subs: Damien Cahalane for Joyce (5, inj), Alan Walsh for Connolly (47-54, temp), Diarmuid Healy for Buckley (52), Robbie O’Flynn for B Walsh (70+3), Ger Millerick for R Downey (70+6, inj).

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Gearóid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Peter Casey, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy. Subs: Darragh O’Donovan for Reidy (53), Tom Morrissey for P Casey (62), Colin Coughlan for O’Brien (68).
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).