Cork edge out Limerick to end their Munster U20 campaign

Ben Cunningham put Cork ahead but a reply from Adam English was met by the St Finbarrs man and that was to be the final score as the Rebels eliminated the reigning champions.

Cork brought Limerick’s 2023 campaign to an end with a dramatic 1-19 to 0-21 win in the TUS Gaelic Grounds to eliminate the reigning U20 Champions.

The Shannonsiders were 0-12 to 1-6 in front at the break, Cork grabbing their goal against the run of play.

But six successive scores in the third quarter was to be the difference with the Rebels pulling clear in that spell.

The game was just 44 seconds old when Limerick had equalled their tally from the first half in Thurles, Paddy O’Donovan and Shane O’Brien on target.

Cork had their response from a Ben Cunningham double, both of those coming from placed balls. Limerick replied with four on the trot, Con Hayes, Oisin O’Farrell and an O’Donovan double.

Adam O’Sullivan and Paddy O’Donovan then traded the next six scores before an incredible Adam English point that left it double scores 0-10 to 0-5 after 24 minutes. Cunningham and O’Donovan exchanged frees but Cork grabbed a lifeline on the half hour mark, Diarmuid Healy netting from close range after good work from David Cremin.

O’Donovan ended the half with his eighth to leave Limerick three in front at the interval.

Adam Fitzgerald kicked off the second half scoring with O’Donovan taking his tally into double figures in the 35th minute that had Limerick 0-15 to 1-8 in front. A Cork double was the response but Limerick senior panelists English and O’Brien hit back with a pair of exceptional scores.

But four on the trot came from the Rebels with Cunningham drawing them level on 45 minutes at 0-17 to 1-14. Cunningham missed a chance to put them ahead but Ross O’Sullivan and William Buckley made no mistake in that regard.

Oisin O’Farrell halved the gap and then Ben O’Connor was given a second yellow card after a heavy charge on Cian Scully. O’Donovan’s resultant effort dropped short but he would make amends a minute later to draw the sides.

Ben Cunningham put Cork ahead but a reply from Adam English was met by the St Finbarrs man and that was to be the final score as the Rebels eliminated the reigning champions.

Scorers for Limerick: Paddy O’Donovan (0-11, 7frees, ’65), Adam English (0-3), Shane O’Brien and Oisin O’Farrell (0-2), Con Hayes, Adam Fitzgerald and John Kirby (0-1)

Scorers for Cork: Ben Cunningham (0-8, 4frees), Diarmuid Healy (1-1), William Buckley and Adam O’Sullivan (0-3) Tadhg O’Connell (0-2) Ross O’Sullivan, Timmy Wilk (0-1)

LIMERICK: Josh O’Reilly; Ronan Lyons, Joe Fitzgerald, Evan O’Leary; David Fitzgerald, Ethan Hurley, Cian Scully; Barry Duff, Mikey Gavin; Adam Fitzgerald, Patrick O’Donovan, Shane O’Brien; Oisin O’Farrell, Adam English, Con Hayes.

Subs Used: Fintan Fitzgerald for Gavin (43), John Kirby for Duff (43), Sean O’Neill for Hayes (52)

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