Ruthless Rebels add to Limerick football struggles with one-sided victory in Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Cork 6-18
Limerick 0-12

Tom Clancy reports from Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Limerick slipped to their fourth consecutive Allianz National Football League defeat, falling to Munster rivals Cork, in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. They were outclassed by the Rebels, going down by 24 points on Leeside.

Following earlier defeats to Derry, Dublin and Louth, Ray Dempsey’s side are firm favourites for relegation straight back to Division Three. Cork have now four points on the board, their round two success over Kildare joined by this important Munster derby triumph. They did their scoring difference no harm in a congested Division Two table.

Brian Donovan got his first start of the season, with Adrian Enright missing out. The Limerick management continued with Paul Maher and Gordon Brown in forward berths.

Cork were ruthless in the first half, crashing four goals past Donal O’Sullivan in the Limerick goal as they dominated in many sectors. Those green flags came from four different sources, with midfielders Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan raiding forward for the first two. There was also strikes from Brian Hurley and Sean Powter.

The bright sparks from Limerick were well-taken points from Brian Donovan, Iain Corbett and Hugh Bourke.

It was Cork 4-9, Limerick 0-6 after 35 minutes. The second half started with another Cork 1-1. The goal from sub Conor Corbett was a stunning finish from a tight angle, while at the other end, Donovan rattled the crossbar when going for a goal.

Sub Corbett added two second-half goals for Cork. Limerick had scores from Cillian Fahy (three), Mike Donovan, Colm McSweeney and Cian Sheehan in the same period.

Attention now turns to a round five clash for Limerick, which sees them host Meath, next Sunday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, with a 2pm throw-in.

Scorers for Cork: Conor Corbett 2-1; Chris Og Jones 0-6; Brian Hurley, Sean Powter, Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan, 1-1 each; Steven Sherlock 0-5 (0-2 frees); Eoghan McSweeney, Matty Taylor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Cillian Fahy 0-3; Brian Donovan, Hugh Bourke, James Naughton (free), Tony McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Mike Donovan, Colm McSweeney, Cian Sheehan, Own point – 0-1 each.

Cork: Micheál Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Luke Fahy, Rory Maguire, Matty Taylor; Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire; Eoghan McSweeney, Sean Powter, Brian O’Driscoll; Ethan Hurley, Chris Óg Jones, Steven Sherlock.

Subs: Ruairi Deane for O’Driscoll (5 – inj), Conor Corbett for Hurley (half-time), Killian O’Hanlon for Maguire (42), Cian Kiely for Fahy (48), Kevin O’Donovan for Shanley (60), Mark Cronin for Powter (62).

Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan; David Connolly, Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning; Iain Corbett, Cillian Fahy, Tony McCarthy; Colm McSweeney, Cathal Downes; Cian Sheehan, James Naughton, Paul Maher; Gordon Brown, Brian Donovan, Hugh Bourke.

Subs: Mike Donovan for Connolly, Peter Nash for Maher, Killian Ryan for Brown (all half-time), Adrian Enright for Donovan (50), Jim Liston for H Bourke (60).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)