Munster SFC Quarter-Final

Cork 0-24 (0-5-14) Limerick 0-13 (0-3-7)

By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds

Cork eased their way into the Munster semi-final, thanks to a 0-24 to 0-13 success over Limerick at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

An attendance of 2,042 were at the Ennis Road venue, with a first half dismissal of Seán Clancy allowing the Rebels to take control, to set up a date with Kerry in two weeks time.

As well as the 25th minute red card, Cork kicked three two-point scores from outside the arc, which swelled the margin out to nine by the interval.

A end-to-end opening saw James Naughton open the scoring from a free before Brian O’Driscoll got the first of two scores from outside the arc. The wing-back exploiting early gaps in the Treaty defence. Paul Walsh was also busy for the Rebels but a run from Limerick saw the game level for the first (and only) time on 14 minutes.

Nash curled a free, before Colm McSweeney carried unopposed from a solo-and-go inside his own 40m line, to land a brilliant effort. Paul Maher and Nash levelled the clash.

This game swung completely towards John Cleary’s men on 24 minutes, when Clancy received a second yellow card – for a high challenge on Mark Cronin – making it a Championship debut to forget for the Galtee Gaels man.

By half-time, a lead that was just three at the red card, had moved to near double digits, nine. This in no small park thanks to those three two-pointers in just five minutes. Cronin from play and from a free sandwiched one from Castlehaven star Brian Hurley – also from play.

A Naughton point gave the hosts a minor boost heading for the dressing room, they trailed 0-16 to 0-7.

Their chances of a revival was not helped by hitting the post, not once, but twice with two-point attempts early in the second half. A Colm O’Callaghan point re-opened the ten-point margin.

From here, Jimmy Lee’s men battled and a fine Emmet Rigter double as well as two Naughton frees from outside the arc gave them their scores. While they battled hard, the Treaty were playing a fourth game in as many weeks and this, as well as the numerical disadvantage, came against them.

John Cleary could empty his bench and points from Cathail O’Mahony, Cronin and Colm O’Callaghan saw them win out by eleven.

The Leesiders will know that they face a mammoth task against the Kingdom in two weeks time and improvements will be needed. When this was a tight contest, the Division Four champions posed them questions.

Scorers for Limerick: James Naughton 0-7 (1f; 2 tpf), Peter Nash (1f), Emmet Rigter (1tp) 0-2 each, Colm McSweeney, Paul Maher 0-1 each.

Scores for Cork: Brian O’Driscoll (2 tp), Mark Cronin (2tpf; 2f) 0-6 each, Brian Hurley 0-4 (0-1 free; 1 tp), Paul Walsh, Colm O’Callaghan 0-2 each, Seán McDonnell, Cathail O’Mahony, Matty Taylor, Chris Óg Jones 0-1 each.

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Diarmaid Buckley, Colm McSweeney, Mark McCarthy; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Cillian Fahy (C); Emmet Rigter, Tommie Childs; Paul Maher, James Naughton, Seán Clancy; Rob Childs, Darragh Ó Siochrú, Peter Nash.

Subs: Jason Hassett for Coleman (46), Tadhg Ó Siochrú for R Childs (54), Darragh O’Hagan for Fahy (54), Danny Neville for D Ó Siochrú (57), Jamie Baynham for Nash (61), Darragh Murray for T Childs (inj – 69).

 

Cork: Micheál Aodh Martin; Seán Brady, Daniel O’Mahony, Neil Lordan; Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Eoghan McSweeney, Seán McDonnell; Mark Cronin, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones.

 

Subs: Seán Powter for Maguire (half-time), Ruairí Deane for McSweeney (46), Cathail O’Mahony for Hurley (52), Conor Cahalane for Walsh (63), Maurice Shanley for Lordan (66).

 

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).