Limerick beaten by late Cork score

Cork 2-17
Limerick 0-22

Tom Clancy reports from Páiric Uí Chaoimh

A stoppage time point denied Limerick an opening round draw with rivals Cork, as Shane Kingston delivered some early season cheer for Pat Ryan and Cork in the Allianz National Hurling League.

Limerick let a half-time lead of eight points slip, and will be cursing a slow third quarter which allowed the Rebels back into the contest.

John Kiely handed first starts of the season to Seán Finn, Declan Hannon, Colin Coughlan, Gearoid Hegarty, Adam English and Seamus Flanagan. Goalkeeper David McCarthy was making his League debut.

This is the seventh League season under John Kiely, whose selection struck of a panel aiming to peak later in the season. These counties had clashed in the League in each of the last four seasons, with Cork coming out victorious last season. Limerick won their last league visit to Cork in February 2020.

There was first half points for the Treaty from Colin Coughlan, Darragh O’Donovan and three from a  tidy looking Gearoid Hegarty. In fact, they were among nine players to get on the first half score sheet.

Kiely’s men led early on, and even though Cork threatened to come into the game with efforts form Patrick Horgan and Robbie O’Flynn, they weren’t able to get too close to Limerick. Indeed, when Eoin Downey scored to make it 0-10 to 0-8, it looked like the Rebels would kick on, but Limerick closed the half strongly.

They clipped over six points on the trot, including beautiful efforts from Seamus Flanagan and Adam English. This left it Limerick 0-16 to 0-8 clear at half time. Cork hit nine first half wides, compared to just four from the men in green.

But Cork came back, superbly, in the third quarter. A bullet of a goal from the rampaging Robbie O’Flynn either side of Horgan points brought the sides closer – 1-10 to 0-17 – as Limerick struggled to find the same rhythm.

Indeed, Limerick managed just six points in the second period and when Declan Dalton whipped a shot to the net on 46, Cork were within one.

New manger Pat Ryan will like what he saw and his side were able to come from behind again after Limerick found some scores. David Reidy, Ciaran Barry, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh helped Limerick into a winning position but the home side fought back.

Horgan levelled with a free before Kingston delivered an excellent effort from the corner to deny Limerick a draw.


Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-10 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65’); Robbie O’Flynn 1-1; Declan Dalton 1-0; Luke Meade, Brian Roche, Eoin Downey, Ciaran Joyce, Shane Kingston 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: David Reidy 0-8 (0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65’); Gearoid Hegarty 0-3; Colin Coughlan, Adam English 0-2 each; Darragh O’Donovan, Tom Morrissey, Barry Murphy, Declan Hannon, Seamus Flanaghan, Ciaran Barry, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-1 each.  

Cork: Patrick Collins; Conor O’Callaghan, Eoin Downey, Seán O’Donoghue ©; Tommy O’Connell, Ciarán Joyce, Damien Cahalane; Brian O’Sullivan, Luke Meade; Brian Roche, Conor Lehane, Cormac Beausang; Declan Dalton, Patrick Horgan, Robbie O’Flynn.

Subs: Nially O’Leary for O’Donoghue (inj – 30), Shane Kingston for Beausang (40), Shane Barrett for O’Sullivan (43), Brian Hayes for Dalton (55), Conor Cahalane for O’Flynn (inj – 62).

Limerick: David McCarthy; Seán Finn, Richie English, Aaron Costello; Dan Morrissey, Declan Hannon ©, Colin Coughlan; Darragh O’Donovan, Barry Murphy; Gearoid Hegarty, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey; Adam English, Seamus Flanagan, Oisin O’Reilly.

Subs: Shane O’Brien for O’Reilly (50), Ciaran Barry for Hannon (inj – 49), Graeme Mulcahy for English (55), Cian Lynch for Hegarty (58), Donnacha Ó Dalaigh for Flanagan (69),

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)