Cork blow Limerick away with a superb second half performance

AFTER tripping over the Clare obstacle this time last year, Cork was never going to allow the same thing to happen against Limerick on Sunday. Of course, Limerick in themselves were a very different proposition to what the Banner were in 2023.

The Treaty men were relegated from Division 2 last season, and they followed that up with another demotion in 2024 as they went 0 for 7 in the third tier of football’s secondary competition. 

In the build up to Sunday’s encounter, the Treaty men’s manager, Jimmy Lee laid bare the extent of the turnover in the squad since the halcyon days under the stewardship of his brother, Billy.

Cork should always beat Limerick. 

And it should always be a comfortable victory when up against a Limerick team devoid of form and openly in transition. What was important from a Cork perspective in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh was how they did it.

From that point of view, it would have to be said that the Cork performance was underwhelming. 

To be fair, the sense of inevitability that hung over the game can be a tough thing to deal with too. 

Even if Cork trailed by a point at half time, never once did it feel like they were in danger of being ambushed.

This Cork team are at their best when they’re attacking in waves through the heart of the opponent’s defence with runners coming off the shoulder to create goalscoring opportunities. 

Even though they played into the teeth of a gale in the opening period, that style of football was still a viable option.

And we did see that type of purposeful running from them at various stages in the first half but the final ball or the final finish was always lacking as at least 3 clear cut goalscoring opportunities went abegging. 

Brian Hurley and Brian O’Driscoll were foiled by Josh Ryan while Paul Walsh palmed wide as Cork just didn’t put enough on the board to reflect the merit of their endeavour.

This has been a theme throughout the league, that Cork is creating the chances but not taking them. 

There is a clear negative and positive there, but if Cork are going to record a first win over Kerry in Killarney since 1995, they will simply have to be a lot more clinical. 

The goals did come in the second half here, and there should have been even more, but the worry would be that in the shadow of the McGillicuddy Reeks, such a delay in the harvest would be fatal.

Another theme of the latter stages of the league that continued into the win over Limerick was the percentage of their scores that came off play. 3-9 of Cork’s 3-13 were from open play and there was a reasonable spread of scorers. 

0-4 came from the starting 6 backs, Ian Maguire scored a goal from midfield, Colm O’Callaghan created 2 goals while 4 of the starting 6 forwards scored from play. 

This Cork team are definitely not overly reliant on any one forward.

Conor Corbett was the last of the 4 forwards to score from play, but his contribution must be analysed using a different metric. 

He linked the play well in the first half as he provided a focal point more than a finishing outlet to the forward division. 

Ideally, in two weeks’ time Cork would like to see him fulfilling both roles, to be both a creator and a finisher.

Defensively, Cork looked reasonably solid as the Limerick forwards only managed 0-3 from play. Christopher Kelly, one kickout aside, was comfortable between the sticks and the forward momentum of Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy and Matty Taylor will be fundamental to Cork’s chances in Killarney.

The overload to one side for kick outs is still a tactic employed but one would hope that there another few variations in play in the very near future. 

When Cork pushed up aggressively on Limerick’s kick outs, they got some joy, and it will be very interesting to see how often they employ that tactic against the old enemy. 

It is high risk and high reward, but if the long wait for a championship win on the other side of the border is to be ended, risks will have to be taken.

So, Cork will travel to Killarney with little fanfare, and little expectation from the greater footballing world. 

Traditionally, it suits them. Had they eviscerated Limerick at home on Sunday, it would have been of little benefit to them also.

Last year they showed that they could trouble Kerry. Now we must wait and see if they can do more than that.