Rebels give Walsh food for thought

IN defiance of the dire weather predictions, a large crowd made their way to Castletownroche on Saturday evening for this senior hurling challenge, anticipating perhaps that with time running out to the championship, they would see a real contest between two sides that would be coming close to full strength.

All the early arrivals quickly packed out the impressive new stand, but those who lined the embankments were rewarded for their dedication when the threatened rainstorm, as though in homage to the superb work done by the local club in upgrading their facilities, held off.

There, however, and for the substantial group of Limerick supporters especially, the reward ended. On the scoreboard it was a contest for about three quarters of the match, but only on the scoreboard. When Fintan O’Leary, one of a bevy of impressive Cork half-time substitutes, slammed past Brian Murray in the 53rd minute to put the home side ahead by seven points, 1-22 to 1-15, he was merely putting an exclamation mark on Cork’s dominance.