Cork hurlers need to tweak puck-out plan and move sliotar far quicker in Thurles

Cork came up six points short against Limerick in the Division 1A hurling final with the focus now very much on the serious stuff in a fortnight.

The Division 1B final that preceded the game showed the strength of the breeze on Sunday. Dublin were 10 down at half-time but got within range to only lose by three to Clare.

Therefore, when Cork were only three down at the break, they looked in a strong position to retain the title. In reality, Limerick outfought Cork in the second half to deservedly lift the silverware on offer.

Sunday’s game had a strange narrative from a Cork perspective. 

They should have no fear of Limerick, given Cork had come out on top in three of the last four championship encounters. Yet there was this lingering worry this Cork team is susceptible to a big beating when games go against them.

The All-Ireland final from last year is the obvious example, but there was also the round robin defeat when Limerick easily won by 3-26 to 1-16. The Rebels reversed that form in the Munster Final but Cork can't afford too many more defeats of that nature.

After six minutes when Cork trailed by 0-6 to no score, it looked bleak but Brian Hayes’ fortuitous goal gave them a lifeline. Even then, it was still remarkable Cork were just three points down at the break.

It must be said that the Cork warm-up looked, to the naked eye at least, less intense than Limerick's. You wonder if that had an impact on the slow start. Given the final score of 1-27 to 1-21 that slow start proved crucial.

Aaron Gillane had Sean O’Donoghue in trouble before he was injured and replaced by Ger Millerick. The Inniscarra man is crucial for Cork but had a tough outing.

Mellerick didn't fare much better. The Cork defenders simply cannot continue to play Gillane from behind. If he's out in front of you, then you are already cooked. Either that, or play a sweeper in front of him.

Cork scored five unanswered points between the 22nd and 28th minutes to get themselves right back into it, through four Alan Connolly frees and Darragh Fitzgibbon from play.

CONCERN

The puck-outs on both sides of the ball were a major talking point. Limerick looked the better side in the aerial exchanges throughout. Cork will have to do much better when the teams meet in a few weeks on Leeside.

The performance of the Cork half-forward line will have been worrying for Ben O’Connor. Not only did they struggle under Patrick Collins’ puck-outs but they did not impact the scoreboard enough. 

Darragh Fitzgibbon got two points, but one of those came when he moved to midfield late on. Seamus Harnedy landed one in the first half while Shane Barrett was unusually quiet and failed to score. Hugh O'Connor grabbed one as a sub.

Cork fans will certainly hope there was a degree of shadow boxing. 

Normally the movement into space is far better in Cork's restarts. Perhaps they were left in cold storage for the championship.

Cork now have only two weeks to park their league campaign and must go in hot against All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the opening round in Thurles.

Tipp have been prepping for that game already as they have been able to fully focus on the Cork game since they finished their own league campaign with the draw with Kilkenny on March 21.

Regardless of how that opener goes, Cork know that they will only have a seven-day turnaround before facing Limerick again, this time at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, in what will be Limerick's first game.

Sunday’s league final will be a distant memory by that point as we will know whether Ben O’Connor’s side look like grabbing one of the top three spots in Munster, or are scrapping for survival.