Munster SHC: Cork fall short as Limerick prevail by a point

Limerick 1-21 Cork 2-17

Cork’s reign as Munster hurling champions ended in tough fashion as they fell short by a point against Limerick before 43,209 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The conditions meant that a classic was never likely to materialise; instead, it was an attritional arm-wrestle where Cork led for much of proceedings without ever being able to put their opponents away. Instead, the Shannonsiders scored six of the last eight points to make it seven Munster titles in eight seasons.

The home side had gone five ahead when Brian Hayes rounded off a great move for their second goal in the opening minutes of the second half. By that stage, however, they were against the wind and Limerick were able to come back to within touching distance, albeit without hitting the free-scoring heights of the round-robin stage.

They threatened a goal when Shane O’Brien tested Patrick Collins but much of the middle period of the second half was Cork’s Alan Connolly and Limerick’s Aidan O’Connor exchanging frees.

The score stood at 2-14 to 1-15 when Tim O’Mahony claimed a Collins puckout and found the onrushing Mark Coleman, who had earlier netted a penalty. This time, his low shot was kept out by Nickie Quaid and no Cork attacker could get the rebound and Limerick followed with an O’Connor free.

At the other end, Limerick’s Peter Casey picked Collins’ pocket after a Kyle Hayes effort fell short, however Cormac O’Brien – on for the yellow-carded Seán O’Donoghue, who kept Aaron Gillane scoreless – made an important goal-line block.

Diarmaid Byrnes cut the deficit to two with a long-range free on 58, then O’Connor made it a one-point game with his first from play after missing a scoreable free just beforehand.

Connolly put Cork two in front again following a foul on O’Mahony but Cian Lynch claimed possession from puckout and set away Adam English, who had not started but came on for Gillane. He drove at the defence and then popped a pass to Hegarty, who had relocated to full-forward – he loaded but Collins diverted the shot out for a 65.

Byrnes put that over and they were level when Hayes set up Hegarty. With the clock showing 70.05, Casey gave them the lead for the first time since the fifth minute, 1-20 to 2-16.

Five minutes of injury time had been signalled and Connolly tied matters again but Limerick had the momentum.

Casey scored what proved to be the winner, then Hegarty looked to have made it safe but shot off the post. When Tim O’Mahony was fouled inside the Cork 65, we had reached 76 minutes. Collins came out to take it but went short to Coleman, who in turn passed to O’Mahony but, as he shot, referee James Owens halted the game and Limerick were back on top of the provincial tree.

Cork had the wind in the first half and led from the moment Mark Coleman converted an eighth-minute penalty. While that advantage was five points on two occasions, a strong finish to the opening period by Limerick sent them in trailing by just two points, 1-11 to 1-9.

Coleman had scored his second penalty of the campaign when Brian Hayes was fouled by his namesake Kyle under a sideline cut from the Blarney man; while Cork briefly pushed 1-4 to 0-2 ahead, an O’Connor free for Limerick was followed by Gearóid Hegarty doing well to claim a Diarmaid Byrnes free from deep and finishing smartly to the bet.

Beyond the goals, both goalkeepers made important saves in the first half – Collins was on hand to deny Cathal O’Neill after the first two points had been shared, while Quaid made a great stop on Diarmuid Healy effort on 25, when Cork were 1-7 to 1-5 to the good.

That was followed by a pointed 65 from Tim O’Mahony – his third of the opening 35 minutes – with William Buckley and a Connolly free extending the lead.

Unusually for a team with a considerable breeze, Cork were not prone to wild potshots and Shane Barrett had their first wide on the half-hour. From Quaid’s puckout, Robert Downey rose high and took what might have been as an optimistic effort but it was straight and true and the lead was six.

However, it was Cork’s last score of the half and Limerick halved the deficit between then and the break, with O’Connor scoring a free, O’Neill pointing before his injury-enforced departure and Shane O’Brien getting his first after showing lovely control from a Hegarty delivery.

Tom Morrissey, who had come on for O’Neill, had the first score of the second half but that was answered by Connolly before a superbly worked goal – Barrett found Coleman, who eschewed a point by floating a pass for Connolly, who fed Hayes. While he lost his footing as he was challenged, he was still able to get his shot away.

It made it 2-12 to 1-10 with 38 minutes on the clock but it was the apex of the lead and Limerick had the stronger finish.

Scorers for Limerick: A O’Connor 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-2 65), G Hegarty 1-1, D Byrnes (0-2 f, 0-1 65), P Casey 0-3 each, T Morrissey 0-2, B Nash, C Lynch, C O’Neill, S O’Brien 0-1 each.

Cork: A Connolly 0-7 f, T O’Mahony 0-4 (0-3 65, 0-1 f), B Hayes 1-1, M Coleman (1-0 penalty), D Healy, W Buckley 0-2 each, R Downey 0-1.

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

Subs: T Morrissey for O’Neill (35, injured), A English for Gillane (50), M Casey for Nash (66-69), D Reidy for O’Brien (66).

CORK: P Collins; N O’Leary, D Cahalane, S O’Donoghue; M Coleman, R Downey, E Downey; T O’Mahony, T O’Connell; B Walsh, S Barrett, D Healy; A Connolly, B Hayes, W Buckley.

Subs: S Harnedy for Walsh (66), H O’Connor for O’Connell (70+2).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).