Limerick see off Cork to reach Munster U-20 Hurling semi final

Limerick booked their spot in the Munster U-20 Hurling Championship semi final with an impressive 1-25 to 1-19 win over Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn.

A superb second quarter where Diarmuid Mullins’ side hit seven points in a row did the damage and Cork were never able to recover from that.

Jack Cahalane’s goal in the second half did give Cork some hope but Donnacha O’Dalaigh’s three pointer 12 minutes from time saw Limerick home.

Ballybrown duo Aidan O’Connor and Colin Coughlan excelled for Limerick, scoring 13 of their 25 points total.

It was tit for tat in the opening 15 minutes with Cork holding a two point advantage but Limerick soon hit top form with seven scores on the bounce to take control.

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O’Connor hit four, while Coughlan, O’Dalaigh and Adam English also raised white flags for a rampant Limerick.

Cork responded with three in a row themselves but Limerick finished the first half in style with O’Connor, Coughlan, Eddie Stokes and Shane O’Brien sending the Treaty into a 0-16 to 0-10 half time advantage.

Patrick Kirby and O’Connor stretched that lead to eight when the game resumed before Cahalane’s first time strike gave Cork hope of a comeback.

Joe Sweeney’s second point was Limerick’s response and the game was effectively put to bed when O’Dalaigh reacted first when a Stokes shot hit the post.

Cork did reduce Limerick’s lead to four late on but two efforts from John Kirby and a monster Coughlan free saw Limerick home. 

Scorers – Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 0-9 (6f), Colin Coughlan 0-4 (1f), Donnacha O’Dalaigh 1-1, Shane O’Brien, Eddie Stokes, Joe Sweeney and John Kirby 0-2 each, Adam English, Patrick Kirby and Jimmy Quilty 0-1 each.

Limerick: Colin Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock); Chris Thomas (Doon), Fergal O’Connor (Effin), Evan O’Leary (Ahane); Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca Banogue), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Jimmy Quilty, (Capt, Blackrock), Joe Sweeney (Adare); Adam English (Doon), Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown), Eddie Stokes (Doon); Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), Patrick Kirby (Patrickswell), Donnacha O’Dalaigh (Monaleen).

Subs: John Kirby (Patrickswell) for Sweeney (41), Patrick O’Donovan (Effin) for English (50), Brian O’Meara (Mungret St Pauls) for O’Dalaigh (53), Patrick Reale (Knockainey) for Stokes (57), Barry Duff (Mungret St Pauls) for Scully (61).