Cork prove too strong for Limerick in U17 Football

Cork steamrolled past Limerick last night in the U17 Munster Football championship in Pairc Ui Rinn by 5-18 to 1-6. Cork now have a Munster final against Kerry to look forward to whilst Limerick must lick their wounds and look to build for next year.

Cork raced out the traps and had racked up 1-4 inside the opening 10 minutes with Mark Cronin goaling from the penalty spot. Rory 0’Brien opened the Limerick account in the 11th minute with a free.

Cork, however, did not let up and Blake Murphy notched their second goal in the 16th minute to extend their lead to 2-6 to 0-1. James Cummins, O’Brien and Barry Coleman all kicked points for Limerick in the opening half but by the interval Cork had their 3rd goal and were 3-8 to 0-4 ahead.

O’Brien had two points inside the opening couple of the minutes after the restart to reduce the deficit. However, Mark Cronin effectively ended the game on 33 minutes, completing his hat-trick to give Cork a commanding 4-8 to 0-6 lead.

Cork had their fifth half way through the second with captain Murphy scoring his second goal of the game. Substitute Liam Wilson responded for Limerick with a well taken goal. Yet, Limerick would not score for the final 15 minutes, as Cork progressed comfortably to the final.

SCORERS: Limerick: Rory O’Brien 0-4, Liam Wilson 1-0, James Cummins and Barry Coleman 0-1 each. Cork: Mark Cronin 3-2 (2-0pen, 0-1 free), Blake Murphy 2-3 (0-1free), Ronan Dalton 0-3 (1free), Mark Keane, Conor McMahon and Jack Murphy 0-2 each, Fionn Herlihy, Killian Murphy, Neil O’Sullivan and Liam Twohig 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Cian Walsh (St Senans); Michael Murphy (St Kierans), Eoin Burke (St Kierans), James Garvey (Mungret St Pauls); Mark Quinlan (Galbally), Michael Ryan (Dromcollogher-Broadford), James Cummins (Galbally); Barry Coleman (Rathkeale), Liam Kennedy (St Kierans); Adam Lacey (Knockaderry), Rory O’Brien (Fr Caseys), Michael Togher Clancy (Claughaun); Aaron Kelly (St Patricks), Matthew Lucey (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Josh O’Connor (Rathkeale). Subs: Oisin Brennan (Newcastle West) for Michael Murphy, inj (15mins), David Aherne (Mungret St Pauls) for James Garvey (h-t), Sean Clancy (Galtee Gaels) for Josh O’Connor (38mins), Liam Wilson (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for Aaron Kelly (43mins), John Leahy (Na Piarsaigh) for Mathew Lucey (52mins).

CORK: Cian Lankford; John Corcoran, Daniel O’Mahony, Eoin Murray; David Lardner, Greg Lardner, Adam Coleman; Mark Keane, Neil O’Sullivan; Fionn Herlihy, Blake Murphy, Jack Murphy; Mark Cronin, Conor McMahon, Ronan Dalton. Subs: Killian Murphy for Adam Coleman (34mins), Conor Crowley for Mark Keane (45mins), Adam Hennessy for Mark Cronin (45mins), Sean Desmond for Daniel O’Mahony (50mins), John Kelleher for  David Lardner (53mins), Liam Twohig for Conor McMahon (54mins).