Job done, but positional posers remain for Cork

Cork 1-18 Limerick 2-12

Yet, the inescapable fact is that underdogs Limerick lost the momentum they had gained over the course of a spirited first half display and struggled in the face of a rising Cork challenge.

To their great credit and thanks to the astute preparation of manager Padjoe Whelahan they were still in contention when the whistle sounded in the 40th minute.

There was no single reason why Cork triumphed, much less convincingly than had been generally expected, it was due more to a combination of factors. Team captain Ben O'Connor, the goal-scorer from a 75-yard free which went over the head of goalkeeper Albert Shanahan (who might have been blinded by the sun), certainly made a telling contribution with 1-7 from placed balls. And, in a defence which acquitted itself reasonably well overall, the influence of John Gardiner at right half-back after his move there on the resumption was highly significant.

Limerick, starting with Mark Foley at midfield (on Gardiner, who never really settled there), made the perfect start with a seventh-minute goal. It came from Sean O'Connor at full-forward, when he met an outfield free from Niall Moran with a powerful overhead strike. That gave them the confidence boost they needed to unsettle Cork and sustained their challenge to half time.

During this period, there were two minor melees, but these were small beer by comparison to a ninth minute incident. This involved the Limerick captain T.J. Ryan who pushed corner-forward Jonathan O'Callaghan in the face with his outstretched hurley. After consulting with his umpires, Tipperary referee Seamus Roche merely showed him a yellow card. He should have been sent off. And, that was very fortunate from Limerick's perspective because the Garryspillane man did invaluable work at the heart of the defence.

Without over-impressing, Cork were level by the 17th minute, through the industrious Niall McCarthy, who was actually finding it hard to make progress against Ollie Moran on the left flank. In contrast, on the opposite side, Niall Moran proving quite accurate for Limerick against an out-of-touch Tom Kenny. And, around the middle of the field, Limerick were winning more ball, through Foley and Clem Smith in turn.

They fell down in their finishing, with Niall Moran the only real threat. It meant that after falling behind by three points, they went without a score until the 25th minute. Additionally, missing a few scorable frees discouraged them until Moran had them on level terms in the 30th minute. Finally, they did go back in front with a great shot from Moran to see the half finish 1-5 to 0-7.

Recognising the danger posed by Niall Moran, Cork moved Gardiner to right half-back for the second half and it didn't take him long to establish himself even though Moran was still able to contribute four points. And, there were other signs of a growing Cork influence in defence, indicated by stronger play from Wayne Sherlock, the increasing influence of Ronan Curran in the centre and the dependability of Diarmuid O'Sullivan.

Cork gained further ground through the unerring accuracy of Ben O'Connor from frees, while Niall McCarthy continued to work hard and Joe Deane was more involved, hitting a great score in the 50th minute which gave Cork a five-point lead, while McCarthy had the ball over the bar straight from a puck-out badly aimed by Shanahan.

Basically, the game was heading for its predictable outcome until a second goal from O'Connor in 67th minute (made by good work from Andrew O'Shaughnessy) gave Limerick renewed hope. And, with substitute Patrick Tobin pointing quickly afterwards to narrow the margin to a goal, there was the possibility of the home side completing their revival. However, with T.J. Ryan being penalised for over-holding when Limerick desperately needed the ball to be driven deep into their attack that hope quickly disappeared. Still, they went down with their honour intact.

The refereeing of Seamus Roche wasn't up to standard, as he ignored too many obvious fouls. Initially finding it difficult to assert his authority, the failure to send off the Limerick captain was his biggest mistake.

Scorers: Cork 1-7 (1-6 frees, 0-1 65); J. Deane 0-4 (0-3 frees); N. McCarthy 0-3; T. McCarthy, M. O'Connell, J. O'Connor and B. Corcoran 0-1 each. Limerick: N. Moran 0-7 (0-3 frees); S. O'Connor 2-0; P. Tobin 0-2; D. Sheehan, J.P. Sheahan and M. McKenna 0-1 each.

CORK: D. Óg Cusack; W. Sherlock, D. O'Sullivan, B. Murphy; T. Kenny, R. Curran, S. Óg Ó hAilpin; J. Gardiner, M. O'Connell; N. McCarthy, J. O'Connor, T. McCarthy; J. O'Callaghan, B. O'Connor (capt.), J. Deane.

Subs: B. Corcoran for T. McCarthy (53rd minute); M. Byrne for O'Callaghan (65th).

LIMERICK: A. Shanahan; D. Reale, T.J. Ryan (capt.), M. Cahill; O. Moran, B. Geary, P. Lawlor; M. Foley, C. Smith; M. McKenna, J.P. Sheahan, N. Moran; A. O'Shaughnessy, S. O'Connor, D. Sheahan.

Subs: P. Tobin for J.P. Sheahan (55th minute); D. O'Grady for D. Sheehan (72nd).

Referee: S. Roche (Tipperary).

*Attendance: 31,663.