Cork 2-14
Limerick 0-11
CORK’S hopes of a third successive Cadbury’s Munster U21 football title remain intact after they had nine points to spare over Limerick in tonight’s semi-final clash.
The Rebels travelled to the Gaelic Grounds and came away with the spoils as Brian Hurley’s late goal sealed their triumph.
Wing-forward John O’Rourke had notched Cork’s first goal in the opening period yet they had to work hard to shake off a dogged Limerick outfit for whom Frances O’Riordan impressed up front with his marksmanship.
Limerick were also grateful to goalkeeper James Brudair who made a string of first-class saves to deny the likes of Luke Connolly and Dan McEoin from hitting the net.
The key first-half score arrived in the 12th minute when O’Rourke stole in to fist home the opening goal of the game.
That strike pushed Cork into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead and Hurley tapped over his third free of the game shortly after to stretch their lead to four points.
Limerick rallied admirably with some excellent points by Frances O’Riordan and Peter Nash but they were left to rue the six wides that they had chalked up by the 20th minute mark.
They had trimmed the margin to 1-4 to 0-5 at one juncture yet Cork reasserted their dominance before the break to lead by 1-6 to 0-6 and they made a fine start to the second-half with Hurley, substitute Cathal Vaughan, McEoin, O’Rourke and Alan Cadogan all on target.
They lead 1-13 to 0-8 during the final quarter before Limerick hit back with a pair of converted frees by O’Riordan and another point by Danny Frewen.
However John Cleary’s Cork side sealed their triumph with Hurley’s late goal as they get set to face Tipperary on April 10th in Thurles.
Scorers for Cork: Brian Hurley 1-5 (0-3f), John O’Rourke 1-2, Cathal Vaughan 0-3, Dan McEoin 0-2 (0-1f), Luke Connolly, Alan Cadogan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Limerick: Frances O’Riordan 0-7 (0-5f), Danny Frewen 0-2, Danny Neville, Peter Nash 0-1 each.
CORK: David Hanrahan (Douglas); Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), Conor Dorman (Bishopstown), Alan Cronin (Nemo Rangers); TJ Brosnan (Newmarket), Damien Cahalane (Castlehaven), Jamie Wall (Kilbrittain); Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s); Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Mark Sugrue (Bandon), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); Dan McEoin (Ilen Rovers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers).
Subs: Cathal Vaughan (Iveleary) for Sugrue (half-time), Jamie Burns (St Finbarr’s) for Clancy (50), Sean Kiely (Ballincollig) for Cadogan (55), Kevin Crowley (Millstreet) for Cronin (57), Kevin Hallissey (Eire Og) for McEoin (59).
LIMERICK: James Brudair (Mountcollins); Stephen Cahill (Mountcollins), James O’Meara (Ballysteen), Brendan McCarthy (St Kierans); Paul White (St Marys Sean Finns, Rathkeale), Iain Corbett (Newcastle West), Sean Barrett (Kilmallock); Darragh Treacy (St Kierans), Patrick O’Donnell (Galbally); Sean Sheahan (St Marys Sean Finns, Rathkeale), Micheal Brosnan (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Danny Frewen (Ballylanders); Danny Neville (Ballysteen), Francis O’Riordan (St Senans), Peter Nash (Kildimo-Pallaskenery).
Subs: Jamie Lee (Newcastlewest) for Cahill (43), Kevin O’Donoghue (Hospital-Herbertstown) for Barrett (47), Bill Creamer (Cappamore) for O’Donnell (49), Kieran Larkin (Banogue) for Nash (55).
Referee: Keith O’Brien (Tipperary)
Limerick’s Paul White and Ian Maguire of Cork
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
**************
Tipperary 1-12
Clare 0-7
TIPPERARY qualified for their fifth Munster U21 football final in seven years with an eight-point win over Clare tonight in Semple Stadium.
The Premier county, fielding 10 of the side that won the All-Ireland minor title two years ago, were too strong for the Banner who were were chasing their county’s first appearance in a Munster U21 football final since 2002.
However Clare entered the game without the benefit of a quarter-final tie whereas in contrast David Power’s Tipperary side had 11 points to spare over Waterford in their opening tussle.
Tipperary were dealt a blow before this game with the loss of attacker Philip Quirke through injury. Yet ace marksmen Liam McGrath and Michael Quinlivan, who grabbed 1-9 between them against the Déise, were to the fore early on here.
McGrath shot over 0-6 in the opening period while Quinlivan was in goalscoring mood once more as he raised the only green flag of the game in the first-half.
Tipperary enjoyed a 1-8 to 0-3 half-time lead and were never threatened in the second-half despite the scoring efforts of Cathal Duggan and Jamie Malone for Clare.
Scorers for Tipperary: Liam McGrath 0-8 (6f), Michael Quinlivan 1-0, Seamus Kennedy 0-2, Steven O’Brien, Billy Hewitt 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Cathal Duggan 0-3 (0-1f), Jamie Malone 0-2, Conor Cleary (0-1f), Eoin Cleary 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford (Clonmel Commercials); Paddy Dalton (Arravale Rovers), Niall O’Sullivan (Moycarkey/Borris), Conor O’Sullivan (Galtee Rovers); Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Seamus Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Dylan Fitzell (Cashel King Cormacs); Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials); Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Liam Treacy (Loughmore-Castleiney), Donagh Leahy (Arravale Rovers); Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials), Shane Leahy (Arravale Rovers).
Subs: Michael O’Sullivan (Ardfinnan) for O’Meara (inj, 42), Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials) for Maher (50), Billy Hewitt (Ardfinnan) for Treacy (50), Jonathan Ryan (Ardfinnan) for Fahey (55), John O’Callaghan (Ballyporeen) for Fitzell (55).
CLARE: Darren Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Anthony Downes (Kilmihil), Conor Brennan (Eire Og Ennis), Stan Lineen (Kilmihil); Craig O’Brien (Wolfe Tones), Seanie Malone (St Joseph’s, Milltown), Eoin Brew (O’Currys); Gearoid Looney (Cooraclare), Ciaran Devitt (Ennistymon); Darragh Bolton (Kilrush), Podge Collins (Cratloe), Conor Cleary (St Josephs, Milltown); Cathal Duggan (St Joseph’s-Doora Barefield), Jamie Malone (Corofin), Seamus Lynch (Kilmurry-Ibrickane).
Subs: William Flynn (Wolfe Tones) for Downes (47), Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s, Milltown) for Lynch (42), Dale Masterson (St Breckan’s) for Devitt (49), Mikey O’Neill (Lissycasey) for Collins (52), Liam Corry (Eire Og Ennis) for Bolton (56).
Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)
