Limerick 1-27

Cork 1-21

JOHNNY CAROLAN REPORTS

THROUGHOUT his maiden season in charge of the Cork senior hurling team, Ben O’Connor has been clear that he wants to win every game.

While there is no doubting the veracity of that, equally it is also true that some games are more important than others – if Cork beat Tipperary in their Munster SHC opener, few will worry about this Division 1A final loss to Limerick.

At TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, the Rebels were second-best throughout – they never led at any stage. Though Cork did come within two points down the stretch, Limerick’s supremacy never felt in question and they finished well to claim their first silverware since the 2024 Munster title.

For O’Connor, it was a case of disappointment but not dejection.

‘We got exactly what we wanted out of the league, only we didn't get the cup,’ he said.

‘We got game-time into every fella, we've got a good buzz in the group going because every fella's getting game-time.

‘Look, we've a fair idea of where we're going after this – great to get the league final, but I suppose it's all down to Thurles in two weeks' time.

‘I'm always saying that we have a great bunch of fellas, we just have to do a little bit better and the margins are small, so a small little bit of improvement will repay us in the long run.’

After Limerick had harnessed the elements well to reel off the first six points, their lead was halved due to a freak goal – Diarmaid Byrnes was intending to play a ball across to goalkeeper Nickie Quaid, who had gone towards the left flank to prepare to build an attack, but the pass was miscued and Brian Hayes was on hand to bat into an empty net.

It didn’t immediately ignite a Cork revival and Byrnes was to the fore as Limerick stayed on top – his excellent pulled pass was perfect for Aaron Gillane to show a wonderful touch and create space to hare away from Seán O’Donoghue before firing beyond Patrick Collins for a 1-11 to 1-2 lead. Nine points was the largest chasm between the sides and Cork began to improve, with Tommy O’Connell’s hard work in midfield helping them.

Four Alan Connolly frees in a row – it was a day of ‘league fouls’, rather than championship ones – brought Cork within touching distance, though they were lucky not to allow another goal before half-time.

Collins saved well from Cian Lynch after a well-worked Limerick move but then a goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball squirting over the line, however there was a reprieve as a throw-ball was awarded.

In such a landscape, a 1-13 to 1-10 deficit at the break was more than manageable for Cork with the wind to come but they couldn’t eat into it and Limerick edged clear on the resumption, even with Aidan O’Connor struggling from dead balls.

When Aaron Gillane pointed following a searching Adam English delivery on 56 minutes, it was 1-20 to 1-14 for John Kiely’s side but Cork, who hadn’t put two consecutive second-half scores together by then, reeled off three in quick succession, with sub Hugh O’Connor, Tim O’Mahony and William Buckley all on target as the lead was halved.

Gillane’s free on the hour was answered by one from O’Mahony and then sub Mark Coleman had a lovely score to leave it 1-21 to 1-19 but it was as close as Cork came.

Gillane shone in the closing stages – only a good Collins stop denied him another goal – and they were good value for the six-point win.

They are not involved in the opening weekend of championship and will look to target their visit to Cork on April 26th but between now and then, the Rebels must of course gear up for just as big a test against Tipp, seeking to bounce back.

Scorers

Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-7 (3f); Aidan O’Connor 0-8 (7f, 1 65); Adam English, Diarmaid Byrnes (1f, 1 65) 0-3 each; Cathal O’Neill, Gearóid Hegarty 0-2 each; Shane O’Brien, David Reidy 0-1 each.

Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7f; Brian Hayes 1-3; William Buckley 0-3; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O’Mahony (1f) 0-2 each; Tommy O’Connell, Séamus Harnedy, Mark Coleman, Hugh O’Connor 0-1 each.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Gearóíd Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy.

Subs: Peter Casey for O’Neill (32-half-time), Peter Casey for O’Brien (53), Darragh O’Donovan for O’Connor (58), Ethan Hurley for Lynch (67), Colin Coughlan for Byrnes (70+3).

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Seán O’Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Micheál Mullins; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Séamus Harnedy, Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon; William Buckley, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Ger Millerick for O’Donoghue (35+1, injured), Mark Coleman for Mullins (48), Hugh O’Connor for Harnedy (51), Robbie O’Flynn for O’Connell (62), Declan Dalton for Buckley (69), Damien Cahalane for Robert Downey (70+2).

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).