Aaron Gillane scoring an early goal for Limerick against Cork. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Munster SHC Round Four
Limerick 3-26 Cork 1-16
By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds
A stunning Limerick display saw them trounce Cork, in what may go down as one of the best performances from John Kiely’s men. It is also a result that sees All Ireland holders Clare out of the Championship.
Limerick will advance, alongside Tipperary from the Munster Championship, knowing a positive result next week could book their spot in a seventh Munster final on the trot.
The 16 point margin of victory mirrors the same margin from the 2022 All Ireland final.
The Shannonsiders were simply sensational in the opening half, playing in front of a boisterous home following at a sold out TUS Gaelic Grounds, which saw 42,477 through the turnstiles.
This victory was thanks to stunning passing, accurate shooting and a superb work ethic that has defined this great Limerick team.
Cork, struggled, surprisingly to reach the level the had against Clare and Tipperary, with the movement of the Limerick forwards causing them unprecedented problems.
After suffering two defeats to Pat Ryan’s men last year, Limerick looked motivated and determined to re-claim the bragging rights against their neighbours.
Aaron Gillane rattled the net inside three minutes, turning the Cork cover in the corner, bouncing the ball off the net before blasting past Patrick Collins. This added to two quick-fire Tom Morrissey points, to open up an early five point lead.
Cork, through Patrick Horgan (free) and then Mark Coleman got settled but they soon lost Declan Dalton to injury.
By the 15 minute mark, Limerick continued to lead, now by six as Gillane and Morrissey were joined on the scoresheet by Adam English.
Cork were struggling and a Brian Hayes point was needed, but another burst from Limerick saw them hit five of the next six points – including efforts from Mike Casey and Shane O’Brien.
Patrick Horgan was denied a green flag when Nickie Quaid was sharp to repel his goalbound affort on 24 minutes. Gearoid Hegarty ruthlessly punishing this at the other end, with a point.
Cian Lynch’s fingerprints were all over plenty of Treaty, including an assist for English, who raced beyond the cover and bounced the ball into the net.
The captain, from Patrickswell, slotted a point on the next play, despite not looking towards the posts – to the glee of the Limerick support.
By half-time, a total dominance from the hosts saw them clear by a staggering 15 points – 2-18 to 0-9. Brian Roche’s late point had cut the gap, but it wasn’t enough after Gearoid Hegarty, Morrissey and then Diarmaid Byrnes all had their radar working.
The first six points of the shared equally, before Patrick Horgan’s three frees and a point from Seamus Harnedy brought the margin back to 11. Cathal O’Neill and Gillane steading things for Limerick.
There was feint hope when Patrick Horgan buried a 20 meter free, however, Eoin Downey felled Gillane who second his second goal, this time from a penalty.
Peter Casey’s stoppage time point ensured Limerick would be second half winners, by a point.
Limerick host Clare next Sunday, while at the same time, Waterford are the visitors to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Cork know that a draw will be enough to see them advance in third place, a win could set up a Munster final meeting with Limerick.
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-7 (6fs), Tom Morrissey 0-5, Adam English 1-2, Gearoid Hegarty 0-3, Cathal O’Neill, Peter Casey 0-2, Shane O’Brien, Mike Casey, Cian Lynch, David Reidy, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-9 (8fs), Seamus Harnedy 0-2, Mark Coleman, Rob Downey, Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett, Brian Roche 0-1 each.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Adam English, William O’Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy.
Subs: Darragh O’Donovan for O’Donoghue (37 – 39 blood); Seamus Flanagan for O’Brien (51); Cathal O’Neill for Tom Morrissey (51); Peter Casey for Reidy (59); Colin Coughlan for M Casey (67), Aidan O’Connor for Byrnes (68); Barry Murphy for D Morrissey (head inj – 73).
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Ethan Twomey; Declan Dalton, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Brian Roche for Dalton (inj – 7); Cormac O’Brien for R Downey, Seamus Harnedy for E Twomey (both half-time); Damien Cahalane for O’Leary (inj 55); Robbie O’Flynn for Connolly (65).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
