The Best Game of All Time? Limerick and Cork head to Croker again with memories of 2018 still fresh

Limerick and Cork meet in the 2021 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final this Sunday.

The clash will be the first All-Ireland final meeting of the provincial rivals who have played out some classics in recent years.

In the newly revamped Pairc Ui Chaoimh, there was nothing to separate the sides in an enthralling draw in the Munster championship.

However, just seven weeks later, the sides went one better in the All-Ireland semi-final, playing out one of the greatest games of all time with 68 scores over the course of 90 unforgettable minutes.

As the sides prepare to face off in Croker again this week, it is worth reliving that classic encounter.


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.

Just magical.

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

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.

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.

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 inspirational Shane Dowling, Limerick would overpower their 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.

GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final, Croke Park, Dublin 29/7/2018 Cork vs Limerick Limerick’s Peter Casey, Darragh O’Donovan, Graeme Mulcahy and Seamus Flanagan celebrate at the final whistle Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

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).

Social Sharing

Posted in

Champions Na Piarsaigh into final after late revival against Kilmallock

Na Piarsaigh 1-16Kilmallock 0-18By Tom Clancy in Mick Neville Park, RathkealeChampions Na Piarsaigh are back into another Limerick ...
Read More

Doon power into Limerick SHC final with 12-point win over Patrickswell

Doon are back in the Limerick SHC Final for the first time since 2020 after they beat Patrickswell ...
Read More

Life of Brian – Goals pave way for Newcastle West progress

Newcastle West 3-13Effin 2-13By Tom Clancy in Kilmallock Newcastle West reached their first Premier Intermediate hurling final thanks ...
Read More

Garryspillane reach Premier IHC Final with three-point win over Bruff

Garryspillane are into the Premier IHC Final following a 2-14 to 1-14 win over Bruff in Kilmallock earlier ...
Read More

Kilmallock dig deep to defeat Ballybrown to book semi-final spot

Kilmallock dug deep and used their considerable class and experience to see of Ballybrown, 1-22 to 2-17 at ...
Read More

Patrickswell strike late to see off Monaleen in Limerick SHC quarter-final

Patrickswell will face Doon in the Limerick SHC semi-final following their 0-20 to 0-18 victory over Monaleen in ...
Read More

Knockout picture taking shape in Limerick hurling championships

There was action across all seven Limerick hurling championships last weekend, with some clubs facing into a long ...
Read More

Senior Hurling Championship makes welcome return

By Tom ClancyThere are six games down for decision in the opening round of the Bon Secours Limerick ...
Read More