Subdued Cork advance as finishing leaves Limerick down

Cork 0-9 Limerick 1-3

Excellent defending by Colin O’Brien and Eoin Cotter kept Cork in the game for long periods, and it was only when Fiachra Lynch finally began to win possession at midfield that the scores finally came.

Limerick more than matched Cork, but dreadful finishing cost them.

They dominated midfield for most of the hour through the excellence of James Ryan and Sean Hanlon, while up front Eoin Hogan, Michael Curtin and Neil Mulvihill posed most of the problems for the Cork defence.

Cork conceded a first minute goal when Mulvihill set up Michael Curtin for a snap shot which found the corner of the net, but they recovered well to be level after 12 minutes.

A serious leg injury to Limerick keeper Ger Ryan, delayed play for eight minutes, when it resumed Sean Hanlon and James Ryan began to control midfield and the scores began to flow.

The classy Michael Curtain tacked on a point - Limerick’s first for 19 minutes play - and Eric Ryan added another as Cork struggled alarmingly.

Cork, who had gone 16 minutes without a score, finally managed a point by David Kearney and when Ricky Kenny added another deep into injury time, the visitors were fortunate to go in on level terms at 1-2 to 0-5.

Limerick did create two goal chances on the restart but the Cork’s Eoin Cotter and Colin O’Brien, averted the danger.

Cork then kicked four wides on the trot before Ricky Kenny pointed a free.

A gradual improvement at midfield where Fiachra Lynch began to win possession, finally saw Cork come more into the game and by the end of the third quarter they led 0-8 to 1-2 after Kenny pointed twice from frees.

Limerick’s finishing continued to let them down and by the 55th minute they still hadn’t added to their first half tally.

An Eric Hegarty point pushed Cork to safer pastures before Diarmuid Scannell was denied a goal by an excellent save by Limerick keeper Ger Ryan following the best move of the match.

There was still a kick left in the home side when wing back Ger Collins came up to land a point - their first score for 44 minutes play - but in the added four minutes Cork held firm for a semi-final meeting with Tipperary in June.

Scorers: Cork: R. Kenny 0-3 (frees); D. Kearney 0-2 (frees); C. O’Neill 0-1 (free); C. O’Driscoll, S. Kiely, E. Hegarty 0-1 each. Limerick: M. Curtin 1-1; E. Ryan, G. Collins 0-1 each.

CORK: T. O’Connor; J. O’Callaghan, E. Cotter, C. O’Brien; S. Kiely, A. Fenton, M. O’Brien; F. Lynch, A. Barry; C. O’Driscoll, E. Hegarty, D. Goold; R. Kenny, D. Scannell, D. Kearney. Subs: C. O’Neill for Goold; S. Drummy for Kearney.

LIMERICK: G. Ryan; S. Browne, M. Cahill, O. Nolan; G. Collins, J. Carroll, P. Mullins; J. Ryan, S. Hanlon; K. O’Rourke, E. Hogan, E. Ryan; M. Curtin, D. Dalton, N. Mulvihill. Subs. T. Enright for G. Ryan; M. Boyce for O’Rourke; L. Barrett for Dalton; M. Scannell for Mulvihill; JB Murphy for Curtin.

Referee: D. Cahill (Tipperary).