Cork 2-22

Limerick 1-23

JOHNNY CAROLAN REPORTS

FOR the first time, Cork have won their opening two Munster SHC round-robin games – but victory did come at the cost of injuries to two key defenders.

At SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, Ben O’Connor’s side had to show their mettle more than once – they trailed by seven points in the first half and then fell behind when Diarmaid Byrnes goaled a Limerick free on 68 minutes – and now they stand on the verge of qualification for the All-Ireland series.

This game also extends to 11 games Cork’s unbeaten home record across league and championship, dating back to the loss to Clare on April 28th, 2024.

However, full-back Ciarán Joyce was forced off after five minutes and Robert Downey had to retire deep in added time – scans on Monday revealed that Joyce has suffered a season-ended cruciate ligament injury while Downey is out for six weeks with an ankle issue.

Dealing with those absences is something for management to deal with before the trip to face Waterford on Saturday, May 9th, but there was much to be satisfied with in the result, the fourth of the last five championship meetings with Limerick where Cork have avoided defeat.

O’Connor was proud of how his team had responded when Byrnes’ goal put a 14-man Limerick in front in the dying minutes.

Cork defender Damian Cahalane is determined to stop Shane O'Brien from getting possession. (Photo: George Hatchell)

‘There was still only a point in it at that stage,’ he said, ‘and I thought the breeze was after actually swinging a small bit, so we were able to get the puckout maybe 10 or 15 yards further down the field.

‘But look, you never know – you’re hoping that the boys will dig deep and get the next couple of scores, which they did.

‘Maybe us on the sideline might have panicked a small bit, but the boys inside didn't seem to panic at all. We had a lot of fellas there that put their hand up again today when the going got tough.’

The going certainly did get tough for a Cork side that came in with a bounce from the away win over Tipperary – Limerick, playing their first championship match, hit the ground running and had the opening five points before going on to hold leads of 0-9 to 0-2 and 0-10 to 0-3.

Cork needed a spark and they found it. After tapping over a pointed free, Alan Connolly hassled William O’Donoghue when the Limerick centre-back was put in trouble by a short pass and then he fed Shane Barrett for a brilliant finish to the net.

By the 25th minute, they were level as William Buckley made it 1-7 to 0-10, though Limerick’s threat did not dim either and they pushed on again to lead by two, 0-16 to 0-11, at half-time.

On the restart, both goalkeepers were called into action – Nickie Quaid saving well from Brian Hayes while Patrick Collins repelled a Peter Casey effort at the other end – while Limerick had some costly wides that allowed Cork to stay in touch and then, finally, hit the front for the first time.

It was 0-19 to 1-14 in Limerick’s favour in the 44th minute when Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins went long with a clearance that Hayes brilliantly controlled before feeding the onrushing Connolly, who finished smartly beyond Quaid, shipping a belt as he did so.

Peter Casey cut the deficit to a point, 2-14 to 0-19, with a superb effort from the left sideline, before Limerick lost captain Cian Lynch following a moment of madness as he struck out at Tim O’Mahony.

Captain Darragh Fitzgibbon pointed the Cork free that accrued and did likewise moments later when Quaid saved from Barry Walsh and lay on the ball in the ensuing scramble. However, Limerick would not go away and they twice came back to within one.

The lead was two sub Darragh O’Donovan bundled his way goalwards before being fouled. When the ball was brought closer, Byrnes came forward to take the free: his shot was not the cleanest but it squirted in off Collins’ body and the Treatymen were back in front, 1-23 to 2-19.

It was to be their last score, however, as Cork maintained their composure. When Fitzgibbon was fouled, Connolly put over a straightforward free to level and then he landed a far more difficult one after Mark Coleman was held up around halfway.

Fitzgibbon’s fifth made it a two-point match but Limerick had one last chance, winning a free in the Cork half. Everyone except Quaid and the taker O’Donovan were inside the Cork D but Limerick could not capitalise on the delivery and Cork held out to top the table after two rounds.

OUR STAR: No clear stand-out but plenty who made positive contributions – RTÉ gave their award to Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon but Niall O’Leary had credentials just as strong.

Scorers

Cork: Alan Connolly 1-8 (7f); Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-5 (2f); Shane Barrett 1-2, William Buckley, Brian Hayes 0-2 each; Tim O’Mahony (f), Eoin Downey, Tommy O’Connell 0-1 each.

Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 0-7 (3f, 1 65); Diarmaid Byrnes 1-2 (1-0f); Cathal O’Neill 0-4; Peter Casey, Shane O’Brien 0-3 each; Gearóid Hegarty, Adam English 0-2 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Seán O’Donoghue; Mark Coleman, Robet Downey, Eoin Downey; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett, Barry Walsh; Alan Connolly, William Buckley, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Damien Cahalane for Joyce (5, injured), Alan Walsh for Connolly (47-53), Diarmuid Healy for Buckley (51), Robbie O’Flynn for Barry Walsh (70+2), Ger Millerick for Robert Downey (70+6, injured).

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

Subs: Darragh O’Donovan for Reidy (53), Tom Morrissey for Peter Casey (62), Colin Coughlan for O’Brien (68).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).