Cork 4-18

Limerick 0-21

Jack McKay reports from SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

SLUGGISH AT THE start and end, but rampant in the middle. Four goals were enough for Cork as they got their Munster U20 Hurling Championship up and running with defeat of Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

A fourth quarter fade-out saw Cork’s lead drop from its game high of 14 points after 42 minutes to nine by the finish. Limerick outscored the hosts 0-8 to 0-3 for the remaining 18 minutes, but a comeback never looked likely, and a couple of goals from Cork at the start of the second half made sure of that.

The first, in the 36th minute, came after Denis Fitzgerald set up Finn O’Brien and he was dragged down by John Murray for a black card/penalty infringement. Walsh buried his shot, and three minutes later the Rebels were in again, Fitzgerald passing to Johnny Murphy who found the net, 4-13 to 0-12.

With Murray in the sin bin and 13 points to recover from, there was no way back for Limerick though Tadhg Boddy came off the bench to clip a couple of decent scores.

The Treaty had started well against the breeze, going into an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead as Cork struggled to make the most of the gale.

The Rebels wouldn’t see parity again until a 22nd minute Barry Walsh free, but a minute later, Michael Tadhg Brosnan launched a long ball in that Barry O’Flynn claimed and fired into the corner. That pushed Cork 1-8 to 0-8 clear.

Dara Ferland and Eoin Brosnan tacked on scores for Limerick but Cork managed a second goal through Barry Walsh. After his first goal attempt from a free had been saved earlier, he made no mistake with this one, lashing to the roof of the net after 28 minutes.

That stretched the Cork lead out to four. John O’Connor would shave a point off it, but the hosts hit three before the interval to retire with an advantage of six. In the second half they bolted, Colm Garde – who was excellent off the bench – getting their first score of the latter act as Cork held Limerick scoreless from play with the breeze until the 41st minute.

By then, the margin was too great for Limerick to come back from.

Scorers for Cork: Barry Walsh 2-9 (1-7f, 1-0 pen); Barry O’Flynn 1-2; Johnny Murphy 1-0; Colm Garde 0-2; Michael Tadhg Brosnan, Conor Noonan, Jack O’Brien, Zack Biggane, Craig O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Hugh Flanagan 0-6 (0-4f), Dara Ferland 0-4; John O’Connor, Robert O’Farrell, Eoin Brosnan, Tadhg Boddy 0-2 each; Jack Cosgrove, Conor Ryan, Aidan O’Connell 0-1 each.

Cork

1. Oisin Walsh (Youghal)

2. Darragh Heavin (Russell Rovers), 7. Matthew Barrett (Carrigtwohill)

4. David O’Leary (Ballincollig)

5. Michael Tadhg Brosnan (Glen Rovers), 3. Denis Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), 6. Ben Walsh (Killeagh)

15. James O’Brien (Cloyne), 8. Conor Noonan (Kanturk)

14. Zack Biggane (Charleville), 10. Barry Walsh (Killeagh), 9. Jack O’Brien (Douglas)

13. Finn O’Brien (Erin’s Own), 11. Barry O’Flynn (Sarsfields), 12. Johnny Murphy (Dromina)

Subs:

• 18. Colm Garde (Lisgoold) for James O’Brien (20)
• 20. Jayden Casey (Youghal) for Ben Walsh (43)
• 22. Craig O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) for Biggane (49)
• 17. Rian O’Riordan (Blackrock) for Brosnan (56)
• 23. Cormac Deane (Killeagh) for Barry Walsh (57)

Limerick

1. Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh)

2. John Murray (Patrickswell), 3. Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock), 4. Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul’s)

6. Eamon Richardson (Doon)

5. Jack Cosgrove (Ahane), 9. Aidan O’Connell (Doon), 7. James Coughlan (Ballybrown)

8. Conor Ryan (Ahane), 11. Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen)

10. John O’Connor (Ahane), 13. Robert O’Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), 12. Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane)

14. Dara Ferland (Monaleen), 15. Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh)

Subs:

• 17. Tadhg Boddy (Dromin/Athlacca) for Coughlan (38)
• 18. Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe) for Murray (46)
• 21. Rory Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohernore) for Ryan (55)
• 23. Michael Leo (Knockainey) for Brosnan (60)

Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)