My Favourite Game: Top 10 Limerick Hurling games this Century- 6

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.

Today we have number 6.

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#6.

Limerick 0-28 : 1-25 Cork (2018 Munster Hurling Round-Robin)

2 June 2018 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

This game had absolutely everything you would want from a Munster Championship game.

In the middle of that glorious summer heatwave in 2018, Cork and Limerick played out an instant Munster Championship classic in the revamped Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The dilapidated stadium I left on Munster Final day four years previously was unrecognisable as I arrived on 2 June 2018.

After beating Tipperary in the first round, there was hope for John Kiely’s young Limerick side but this game cemented the belief that this team were different from the previous editions.

The away side began brighter with Cian Lynch, Seamus Flanagan and Graeme Mulcahy pushing Limerick into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead early on.

Cork responded with four unanswered points as Limerick lost captain Declan Hannon to injury after just seven minutes.

But Limerick plugged away and held a 0-8 to 0-7 lead before disaster struck.

Cork would get four on the trot once more before Aaron Gillane received his marching orders after striking Colm Spillane off the ball.

Cork stretched out their lead to 0-14 to 0-10 as half-time approached but two late Limerick scores left them just two in arrears as the half came to an end.

But Limerick refused to back down on the resumption of the half despite the numerical difference on the pitch and scoreboard.

They had the game levelled at 45 minutes before Patrick Horgan struck the games only goal to push Cork back into the lead.

Again the Limerick response was emphatic and lead by the inspired duo of Tom Morrissey, who took over free-taking duties, and Seamus Flanagan, Limerick were back on level terms within ten minutes.

With five minutes of normal time remainging, the Limerick advantage was up to three.

However, Cork’s extra man came to the fore as they reeled of four without reply to regain the lead.

Diarmaid Byrnes replied late on before Patrick Horgan looked to have sealed the win.

Limerick’s workrate paid off in injury time with Kyle Hayes popping up for a late late winner.

There was still time for a Cork response as Seamus Harnedy looked to steal the win only for a brilliant Sean Finn block to salvage the draw.

What a game.

Scorers for Limerick: Tom Morrissey 0-8 (5fs), Séamus Flanagan 0-6, Cian Lynch 0-3, Darragh O’Donovan, Graeme Mulcahy, Diarmaid Byrnes (2fs), and Kyle Hayes 0-2 each, Gearóid Hegarty, Dan Morrissey, Aaron Gillane (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-11 (8fs, 165), Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-4, Conor Lehane 0-3, Daniel Kearney and Shane Kingston 0-2 each, Luke Meade, Mark Coleman, and Colm Spillane 0-1 each.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O’Donovan, Cian Lynch; Tom Morrissey, Kyle Hayes, Gearóid Hegarty; Séamus Flanagan, Aaron Gillane, Graeme Mulcahy.
Subs: William O’Donoghue for Hannon (7, injured), David Dempsey for Hegarty (55), Paul Browne for O’Donovan (61), Barry Murphy for Mulcahy (62), Pat Ryan for Flanagan (64).

Cork: Anthony Nash; Seán O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane; Mark Ellis, Christopher Joyce , Mark Coleman; Darragh Fitzgibonn, Bill Cooper; Conor Lehane, Dean Brosnan, Daniel Kearney; Patrick Horgan, Séamus Harnedy, Shane Kingston.
Subs: Tim O’Mahony for O’Donoghue, Luke Meade for Brosnan (both half-time), Michael Cahalane for Kingston (60), Jamie Coughlan for Lehane (70).

Cork v Limerick Full-Time highlights pic.twitter.com/6xRQQi5Z5F

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 2, 2018