WATCH: Limerick claw back from six down to book All Ireland spot in thriller

A heroic and brilliant Limerick battled back from 6 points down with 9 minutes remaining to advance to the All Ireland final on a score of 3-32 to 2-31 in what was a game for the ages, an epic.

The opening four minutes were frantic with a tit for tat sequence of scores started by Cork’s Shane Kingston. Darragh O’Donovan levelled before Harnedy opened his account.

Gearoid Hegarty landed a well worked score but that was soon cancelled out by Darragh Fitzgibbon to give Cork a 3-2 lead.

Limerick’s first free of the game was converted by Diarmaid Byrnes. Limerick closed off the options for Nash’s puck out allowing Gearoid Hegarty to pluck the ball from the air and in one stroke giving Limerick the lead for the first time.

A fine diagonal ball found Gillane in a half yard of space. It was all he needed as the Patrickswell man made it Limerick 0-5 Cork 0-3 with a fins point.

Cork responded with a Richie English foul presented Patrick Horgan which was converted easily to make it a one point game.

The first goal chance came in the 12th minute when a Tom Morrissey ball found Aaron Gillane who lost his hurl in the contest for possession, unfortunately his booted effort blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

Seamus Harnedy reduced the arrears with his second of the game to make it Cork 0-5, Limerick 0-6. Hayes combined with Flanagan who won the ball slipped his marker and registered Limerick’s seventh point.

Shane Kingston, Daniel Kearney and Mark Coleman added three quick points as Cork edged back into a one point lead. Limerick would have been disappointed with the Kingston and Kearney scores as both came with the Limerick defence were turned over.

A pull back on Mulcahy presented Gillane with a easily levelling point. The free was converted to make it a draw game. Seamus Harnedy then went down in the next passage of play but a foul in the build up meant Horgan would edge the rebels back into a one point lead.

Hawkeye intervened to confirm a Christopher Joyce point as Cork extended their lead to two. Limerick would have been disappointed with their passing in the opening 27 minutes of the game with Cork seeming to cut out a lot of the diagonal ball.

Gillane won another aerial duel with Cathal Spillane but once again left his hurley behind him. Bearing down on goal, Gillane’s booted effort was dragged agonisingly wide.

Limerick needed a boost and two Graeme Mulcahy points levelled proceedings. Nicky Quaid had a nervous moment when a batted down effort was tapped over by Pat Horgan.

Mulcahy levelled again before Cork had a clear goal chance with a Shane Kingston bullet being deflected over the bar by Quaid at the cost of a point. Tom Morrissey got Limerick’s 12th of the game before Daniel Kearney made it a two point game.

36 minutes gone and the towering Flanagan claimed possession, played it off the Cian Lynch who buried the ball to the back of the net. Horgan missed a free with the last puck of the half as Limerick would take a 1-12  to 0-14 lead into the interval.

'Lynch for Limerick… GOAL!'

HT: Limerick 1-12 Cork 0-14

Watch the full highlights of another All-Ireland SHC semi-final cracker tonight on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm https://t.co/y1qinfr2TD #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/0nbQEe48aV

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 29, 2018

The second half opened with a chance for Limerick but Tom Morrisey was wide of the mark. Darragh Fitzgibbon made no mistake with Cork’s first chance of the half to make it a draw game.

Gearoid Hegarty and Conor Lehane then exchanged points. Dan Morrisey then found Gillane with a diagonal ball which was converted into a point before Daniel Kearney cancelled out.

Cian Lynch pick pocketed a Cork jersey to claim possession, shorten the grip and fire the sliotar over the black spot. Fitzgibbon and Lehane then pointed to give Cork a tow post lead while Limerick would have been disappointed with some wayward shooting into the Hill 16 end.

Horgan’s 4th free made it a two point game but Mulcahy claimed possession from the puck out to cut the arrears to just a point. Limerick again seemed to overelaborate when clearing the ball, getting turned over again and conceding an easy free to Horgan who made it Cork 0-21 to Limerick 1-16.

Cork were now starting to get on top slightly and another Horgan free madd it a three point game. Graeme Mulcahy found Gillane with a neat pass. Gillane’s effort raised a white flag.

A very soft free when Richie English executed a perfectly legal hook gave Horgan another opportunity which he duly accepted. Gillane reduced arrears from placed ball to make it a two point game.

Anthony Nash then found Lehane with a pin point puck out. Lehane bore down on goal and fired a bullet past Quaid from the tightest of angles as Cork took a five point lead and take control of the game.

Lethal! Conor Lehane nearly bursts the net with a scorching finish for Cork.

Watch the full highlights of Cork v Limerick tonight on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm https://t.co/y1qinfr2TD #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/7sRGBTIH1R

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 29, 2018

The rebel goal scorer then added a long range point to extend the lead to six as Limerick were now struggling to win possession or create chances. Diarmaid Byrnes had a chance from a long range free but in worrying signs, pulled his shot left and wide.

Shane Dowling was sprung from the bench and landed two points in quick succession to make it a four point game. Limerick were refusing to give in but Cork just seemed to have their measure but Meade and Fitzgibbon quickly cancelled out Limerick’s gains and make it a two goal game.

Limerick were having to work very hard for their frees but two Gillane frees either side of a Kyle Hayes point reduced arrears to just three points. Limerick were battling, fighting for every ball, knowing they would have to execute a perfect final four minutes to reel the rebels in.

A foul on Peter Casey gave Gillane another chance which he grabbed with both hands to make it Limerick 1-24 Cork 1-26. Dowling made a one point with a minute of normal time left. The fourth official then signalled 4 minutes of added time.

Limerick needed to work one more chance, forge one more opportunity to level the game. Gillane took a ball after Peter Casey worked tirelessly to turnover possession. Gillane levelled.

Aaron Gillane scores a great point for Limerick pic.twitter.com/JdjD4e362W

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

Cork then saw a glorious goal chance squandered when Nicky Quaid flicked the ball off the hurl of Patrick Horgan with the goal at his mercy.

Check out this unbelievable save by Nickie Quaid! pic.twitter.com/Y3deg0CM18

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

Another foul on Peter Casey gave Aaron Gillane an opportunity from an acute angle. Gillane composed himself, and slotted the lead score.

In keeping with the theme of the game, Paude O’Dwyer pulled up proceedings for a dubious foul in favour of the rebels. Horgan stepped up to convert to make it 1-27 apiece and force extra time.

This Patrick Horgan free sends the game to extra-time! pic.twitter.com/PQd29S3SgT

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

Pat Horgan drew first blood in extra time from placed ball. Aaron Gillane had another gilt edged goal opportunity but somehow contrived to fire it over the bar when under looked the easier option. Dowling was then quickest to latch onto a breaking ball and fire over for the lead score.

Gillane extended to lead to two with a free after Dowling drew a foul but Cork were not going away as Patrick Horgan reduced arrears to just one point. Limerick needed to create some breathing space and when Shane Dowling latched onto a loose ball and bore down on goal, he was dragged down for a penalty.

Dowling dusted himself down to fire the ball high to the corner past Nash.

Goal for Limerick! Shane Dowling wins and converts this penalty! pic.twitter.com/0QarOXJ1sZ

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

The next score would be crucial and it would come to the men in green when Pat Ryan won possession out wide in the right hand corner, rounded his man and has the presence of mind to lob the advancing Anthony Nash.

Limerick now led 3-30 to 1-29. Jack O’Connor pulled one back for Cork before Pat Horgan tried unsuccessfully to fire a low free past Nicky Quaid.

Declan Nash registered another point as three minutes of extra time were signalled. Horgan puled one more back for Cork but David Reidy quickly cancelled that out. A late Cork goal wasn’t enough as Limerick advanced on a score of 3-32 to 2-31.