Cooke’s late point gives Limerick second chance
Having dominated the third quarter, when they wiped out a 1-5 to 0-4 interval deficit, it looked as if the good work of the host county was in vain when Ciaran Foley had Kerry’s lone second half score, on 51 minutes, to put them back in the ascendant, at 1-6 to 0-8.
With defenders James Costelloe, Pat Reidy and Ciaran O’Sullivan in mean mood, Limerick found their progress stalled, until Cooke raised the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
With the wind behind them in the opening period, Kerry had that look of winners about them when they raced into a 1-1 to nil lead after seven minutes. Frank O’Rahilly got them off the mark with a point, before Ciaran Foley slotted the ball past keeper Pat Kenrick.
Limerick took inspiration from a 10th minute point from Ger Ahern. The same player added two more, before Gary Egan turned the tide in their favour.
The onus was on Kerry to respond, and points from Mike Murphy, Declan O’Sullivan, Foley and O’Rahilly, gave them the advantage at 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval.
With former senior players Tom McLoughlin and Neilus Hunt snatching control of midfield, Limerick drew level with points from Cooke, Ger Ahern (2) and Alan McEntee.
Foley threatened to end the Limerick challenge, but justice was done when Cooke lofted over the final point to guarantee a replay in Tralee on Thursday.
: Limerick: G Ahern 0-4 (0-3f), J Cooke 0-2, A. McEntee, G Egan, J Lyons 0-1 each. Kerry: C Foley 1-2 (0-2f), F O’Rahilly 0-2, M Murphy 0-1, D O’Sullivan 0-1f
: P. Kenrick; D Burke, K. O’Connor, A. O’Rahilly, D. Stapleton, T. McLoughlin, A. Bready; N. Hunt, A. McEntee; G. Egan, J. O’Brien, J. Lyons, P. Donnelly, J. Cooke, G. Ahern. Subs. P. Collins for Bready, T. McGarry for Egan
: M. Drummond; S. O’Sullivan, J. Costelloe, P. Reidy, C. O’Sullivan, M. Corridan, S. Flynn; S. Scanlon, F. O’Sullivan; M Murphy, D O’Sullivan, A. O’Sullivan, D. O’Sullivan, F. O’Rahilly, C. Foley. Subs. S Cremin for O’Rahilly, G. Hegarty for M. Murphy.
: M. Collins (Cork).
