Cork v Limerick: Shannonsiders lead throughout as they take league title

Limerick 1-27

Cork 1-21

Cork’s reign as Allianz Hurling League champions came to an end as Limerick prevailed in Sunday’s final at TUS Gaelic Grounds.

In a scrappy and disjointed game, Cork never led, though a nine-point half-time deficit was down to just two late in the second half before the Shannonsiders finished well.

Trailing by three points at half-time and with the considerable breeze, Cork were unable to make inroads in the third quarter.

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, who had netter for Limerick in the first half, almost netted again, denied by a Patrick Collins save, but Diarmaid Byrnes converted the 65 and the Treatymen had the edge in the closing stages. They edged clear, a Robbie O’Flynn goal chance for Cork notwithstanding, but focus will quickly turn to the Munster SHC – the sides clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on April 26, a week after Cork open away to Tipperary.

With the wind, Limerick started like a train, with English on target twice as they had five points in as many minutes from the opening. They were six to the good when Byrnes landed a long-ranger, but moments later Cork had halved the lead and the Limerick wing-back was a big part of that.

There was not much danger for the Shannonsiders as they looked to play out of defence but, with goalkeeper Nickie Quaid having moved to the left flank to give Byrnes an out ball, his pass was intercepted by Brian Hayes for the easiest of goals.

Despite that setback, Limerick still looked threatening as good deliveries created chances for the two-man full-forward line of Gillane and Shane O’Brien, who had Seán O’Donoghue and Ciarán Joyce for company.

After a nice Cork move ended with Brian Hayes assisting William Buckley for a point to leave it 0-10 to 1-1, Limerick replied as Byrnes intercepted loose Cork play and set up O’Brien; then it was Byrnes’ pulled stroke from deep that gave Gillane the run on O’Donoghue before firing a low shot past Collins.

Hayes replied for Cork before Aidan O’Connor’s free gave him five points for the day and a 1-12 to 1-3 lead, but it was as big as the advantage would stand.

Cork began to get more of a foothold around the middle, with Tommy O’Connell as dynamic as he had been throughout the league campaign. The supply was slowed while frees were forced at the other end – four in a row from Connolly brought the margin to five while O’Connor wasted two efforts for Limerick.

It was 1-13 to 1-9 by the 32nd minute, though Limerick twice went close to another goal in the time that remained in the half. First, English was crowded out after Gearóid Hegarty’s good puckout win led to a chance for him; then, O’Brien’s good work led to Cian Lynch going through – Collins saved and, though the ball ended in the net after a scramble, referee Shane Hynes instead awarded Cork a free out.

As matters spilled over slightly, the call was changed to a throw-in but from that, O’Connell’s surging run gave Hayes a point – 1-2 for him and a 1-13 to 1-10 at the break.

With Limerick having played most of the hurling, it was a good position for Cork to be in but they couldn’t capitalise on the restart, even though O’Connor continued to struggle from dead balls.

A Byrnes free, O’Connor and Gillane moved them six clear and Cork’s travails looked to be summed up by good pressure forcing a turnover only for Shane Barrett to be harshly pulled for a throw-ball when trying to set Hayes away.

They did battle back from there, but Limerick always stayed in front.

Scorers for Limerick: A Gillane 1-7 (0-3 f), A O’Connor 0-8 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), A English, D Byrnes (0-1 f, 0-1 65) 0-3 each, C O’Neill, G Hegarty 0-2 each, S O’Brien, D Reidy 0-1 each.

Cork: A Connolly 0-7 f, B Hayes 1-3, W Buckley 0-3, D Fitzgibbon, T O’Mahony (0-1 f), 0-2 each, T O’Connell, S Harnedy, M Coleman, H O’Connor 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Finn, M Casey, B Nash; D Byrnes, W O’Donoghue, K Hayes; A English, C Lynch; G Hegarty, A O’Connor, C O’Neill; A Gillane, S O’Brien, D Reidy.

Subs: P Casey for O’Neill (32-half-time), P Casey for O’Brien (53), D O’Donovan for O’Connor (58), E Hurley for Lynch (67), C Coughlan for Byrnes (70+3).

CORK: P Collins; N O’Leary, C Joyce, S O’Donoghue; E Downey, R Downey, M Mullins; T O’Mahony, T O’Connell; S Harnedy, S Barrett, D Fitzgibbon; W Buckley, A Connolly, B Hayes.

Subs: G Millerick for O’Donoghue (35+1, injured), M Coleman for Mullins (48), H O’Connor for Harnedy (51), R O’Flynn for O’Connell (62), D Dalton for Buckley (69), D Cahalane for R Downey (70+2).

Referee: S Hynes (Galway).