Cork 1-21
Limerick 1-20
Jackie Cahill reports from the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
ALAN CADOGAN SEALED the Co-Op Superstores Munster senior hurling League title for Cork with a dramatic winning goal against Limerick in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon.
Sub Seamus Harnedy fired in a diagonal ball from the right touchline and after brilliantly gaining possession, Cadogan shrugged off the attentions of two defenders before slamming a shot into the far corner.
Cadogan’s goal capped a spirited comeback from Cork as they trailed by two points in stoppage time, with Limerick looking set to win the province’s pre-season competition for the second time in three seasons.
Instead, it was Cork who dug out the win to maintain their 100 per cent start to the 2017 campaign.
This was Cork’s first time winning the competition and the confidence-booster should stand them in good stead ahead of their Allianz Division 1A hurling league opener against Clare in a fortnight’s time.
When Cork met Limerick two weeks ago, they ran out winners by 21 points and cracked home seven goals but the Shannonsiders proved a much tougher nut to crack today.
Indeed, Limerick had their biggest lead of the game in the second half when David Dempsey’s 53rd minute score opened up a four-point lead – 1-16 to 0-15.
Cork opened up with five points without reply then to gain the advantage but in a seesaw finish, Limerick looked good for victory when Dempsey’s point was initially waved wide and then awarded.
Patrick Horgan was then off-target with a free from 45m out and when Diarmaid Byrnes converted a placed ball for Limerick, they were two clear.
And yet there was still time for Cadogan to show his class, burying an eye-catching goal to seal victory for the visiting Rebels, in front of 2,372 spectators.
Quaid was beaten on this occasion, having denied Cadogan early in the game before keeping out Darragh Fitzgibbon early in the second half. At the end of a first half that was level six times, Limerick had a two-point advantage, ahead by 1-11 to 0-12.
Dempsey’s ninth-minute goal effectively separated the sides as the Na Piarsaigh man netted following a defence-splitting pass from James Ryan, the newly-appointed Limerick captain.
Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston were looking lively for Cork in the half-forward line while Limerick had Graeme Mulcahy in lively attacking form.
A Limerick defence that was extremely porous in the recent meeting between the sides was much better on this occasion but cracked at the death as Cadogan had the final say.
Winning manager Kieran Kingston revealed after the game, however, that Colm Spillane, Damien Cahalane and Stephen McDonnell sustained injuries that will be evaluated in the coming days.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-9 (0-6f), Alan Cadogan 1-2, Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane 0-3 each, Mark Coleman, Daniel Kearney, Dean Brosnan, Seamus Harnedy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Limerick: Peter Casey 0-7 (0-6f), David Dempsey 1-3, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-4 (3f), Graeme Mulcahy 0-3, Gearóid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash 0-1 each.
Cork
1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
4. Damian Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
3 Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)
2. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
5. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
6. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)
8. Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk)
15. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)
10. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
11. Luke Meade (Newcestown)
12. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
9. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)
Subs
20. Killian Burke (Midleton) for Spillane (inj) (half-time)
17. David Griffin (Carrigaline) for Cahalane (inj) (half-time)
24. Dean Brosnan (Glen Rovers) for McLoughlin (half-time)
25. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s) for Fitzgibbon (58)
18. Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfields) for McDonnell (inj) (70+4)
Limerick
1. Nick Quaid (Effin)
4. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
2. Stephen Cahill (Tournafulla)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
19. Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock)
8. Paul Browne (Bruff)
9. James Ryan (Garryspillane) (Captain)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s)
21. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh)
12. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
15. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
Subs
11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for Ryan (59)
25. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell) for Hayes (68)
22. Sean Tobin (Murroe-Boher) for Mulcahy (70+4)
Referee: Philip Kelly (Tipperary)
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