My Favourite Game: Top 10 Limerick Hurling games this Century-2

With no sport to keep us entertained for the foreseeable future, it is time to get creative and reminisce about all sport has offered us over the years.

As such, I began to examine my favourite hurling games involving Limerick since I first attended the Gaelic Grounds in 2007 as a 10-year-old.

There has been some huge highs and many more lows in Limerick hurling circles over the past thirteen years and for each of the next ten days I will count down my top ten favourite Limerick games.

Earlier this week I went through the honourable mentions, and also,

Number 10.

Number 9.

Number 8.

Number 7.

Number 6.

Number 5.

Number 4.

Number 3.

Today we have number 2.

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#2

Limerick 3-32: 2-31 Cork (2018 All-Ireland Semi-Final)

29 July 2018 at Croke Park

After their epic encounter in the Munster Championship at the start of June, this game promised a lot.

What it delivered was out of this world however.

By far and away the most exciting game that I have ever been in attendance at.

Just magical.

Limerick came into the game after defeating Kilkenny in another classic while Cork’s Munster championship win saw them directly into the semi-final.

The teams started at a frantic pace and continued in that vein for the next two hours.

Limerick edged in front 0-5 to 0-3 inside the opening quarter before Cork responded by moving into a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.

Limerick would have the final act of the half with Cian Lynch’s goal pushing them one ahead after a lovely pickout from Seamus Flanagan.

Cian Lynch goals for Limerick just before half-time! pic.twitter.com/ZR8IMsDC45

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

Cork were quickly level after the restart an pushed ahead once more.

The game really burst into life on 53 minutes with Conor Lehane’s goal seeing Cork move five clear of Limerick.

Substitute Shane Dowling replied for Limerick but Lehane and Darragh Fitzgibbon pushed Cork 1-26 to 1-20 ahead with just six minutes of time remaining.

But Limerick were far from done.

Gillane started the comeback and was ably assited by Kyle Hayes and Shane Dowling as Limerick brought it back to within a goal.

Gillane would level for Limerick in injury time to a ruptourous roar from Hedquarters.

Cork almost had the perfect response as Robbie O’Flynn squared for Seamus Harnedy right in front of the Limerick goal.

Somehow Nickie Quaid got a flick on the sliotar and moments later Limerick were down the other end of the field with a free to go ahead with time almost up.

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

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

Gillane duly obliged but there was still enough time for a Patrick Horgan leveller to bring the game to extra time.

The first period of extra-time was cagey with Limerick holding a slender 1-30 to 1-29 lead with ten minutes remaining.

Buoyed by the inspirationa Shane Dowling, Limerick would overpower thier opponents in the second period with Dowling blasting a goal before Pat Ryan’s audacious flick over Quaid cemented the historic win in Croke Park.

Doloras O’Riordan’s Linger that played at full time was the perfect tonic for what was an exhilarating exhibition of hurling from both teams.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-13 (7fs), Shane Dowling 1-4 (1-0 pen, 1f), Graeme Mulcahy 0-4, Cian Lynch 1-1, Gearoid Hegarty 0-3, Pat Ryan 1-0, David Reidy, Barry Nash, Tom Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, Kyle Hayes, Seamus Flanagan, Diarmuid Byrnes (free) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-11 (1-10fs), Conor Lehane 1-3, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-4, Shane Kingston and Daniel Kearney 0-3 each, Seamus Harnedy and Mark Coleman (1 sideline) 0-2 each, Luke Meade, Christopher Joyce, Jack O’Connor 0-1 each

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmudid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O’Donovan, Cian Lynch; Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy.

Subs: Peter Casey for T Morrissey (51), Shane Dowling for Flanagan (57), Pat Ryan for Mulcahy (63), William O’Donoghue for O’Donovan (70), Seamus Hickey for Byrnes (77), Barry Nash for Gillane (84), David Reidy for Hannon (87).

Cork: Anthony Nash; Sean O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane; Christopher Joyce, Eoin Cadogan, Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Luke Meade, Seamus Harnedy, Daniel Kearney; Patrick Horgan, Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane.

Subs: Robbie O’Flynn for Kingston (55), Mark Ellis for Kearney (60), Tim O’Mahony for Meade (65), Michael Cahalane for Cadogan (70), Daniel Kearney for M Cahalane (71), M Cahalane for Harnedy (77), Shane Kingston for Fitzgibbon (78), Jack O’Connor for Kearney (84).

REFEREE: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).

Limerick are heading to the All-Ireland Hurling Final after an unbelievable win over Cork after extra-time in Croke Park! Check out the full-time highlights here on GAANOW! pic.twitter.com/Hpssrtzo1h

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018