Rebel relief as gallant Limerick rattle champs
In different circumstances, if the supposed All-Ireland contenders had not been given an early lifeline through a dubious penalty award, or wing-back Stephen Lavin had been on target with a goal attempt nearing half-time, the probability is that Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s excellently-prepared team would have been celebrating the end of a 113-year championship hoodoo.
In the event, after Stephen Kelly had halved a two-point deficit four minutes from the full-time whistle, they still had enough possession to have gained an equaliser.
And after a splendid opening 35 minutes performance – during which they almost totally outplayed the holders through the intensity of their play and the quality of their scoretaking – that would have been the very least they would have deserved instead of having to endure such a shattering defeat.
Forced to line out without Anthony Lynch and John Miskella – whose combined absence was to be felt over the first 45 minutes – Cork made a confident start through a James Masters point taken with ease after a mere 45 seconds. But remarkably that was to be one of only two scores from play they got over the course of the entire half.
The explanation for that was that Limerick were winning majority possession all over the field and were moving the ball about with pace and purpose, the consequence of which was that Cork could never get their normal game functioning and were largely devoid of any attacking threat of consequence.
In sharp contrast, once Limerick got over early nerves, when some efforts at scores fell short more through a deficiency in their kicking than a lack of conviction, they started to put Cork under serious pressure.
Notably, midfield exchanges didn’t have much of an impact on the way the game was being played out – Limerick’s Jim O’Donovan proving the most effective ball-winner – but what was to prove hugely influential was their penetration at half-forward.
Helped by a strong half-back line in which Stephen Lavin on the right played a key role all through, leading scorer Ian Ryan not only gave terrific leadership at centre-forward, but in the process as good as negated the impact of Cork captain Graham Canty (who was to finish the half on the left wing).
Ryan’s accuracy from a variety of positions – it yielded him four points – boosted the Limerick effort considerably, as did the contribution from team captain Seanie Buckley on his left. And, other than conceding a 14th minute goal, their challenge went from strength to strength.
The goal came from a penalty awarded to Daniel Goulding when he appeared to fall at the precise moment he tried to get in a shot, when tackled from behind.
And while Donncha O’Connor expertly converted it, over the 70 minutes his role was minimal, showing a capacity to win some good ball in the air but brilliantly marked by John McCarthy.
Goulding was the one member of the attack, other than Pearse O’Neill at periodic stages, to play well, but he didn’t maximise his return.
The effect of the goal was to see Limerick’s lead wiped out when Goulding (set up by O’Connor) levelled in the 17th minute, but that marked the end of Cork’s scoring and Limerick’s confidence visibly increased as they strengthened their grip.
After O’Connor might have got a (more deserving) penalty shortly afterwards, Limerick quickly regained their lead and other than more positive defending – with Michael Shields the most effective – Cork had little to offer by way of a more positive response to a deteriorating situation.
At the break they trailed 0-8 to 1-2, but more aggressive all-round play saw them lift their standard quickly on the resumption.
However, while they created as many scoring chances in a ten minute period as they had over the opening half, poor shooting left them down. At the same time, stronger pressure almost forced full-back Mark O’Riordan to give away an own goal.
Nearing the three-quarters stage, the game had reached a position close to stalemate, neither side having scored (Limerick’s penetration steadily weakening) and doubts still existing about Cork’s capacity to recover. But in typical form, they quickly transformed the game, with Goulding managing in a four-minute period to match their first half-scoring total.
It came after a major turnaround in their defensive capability, reflected in a vast improvement in Canty’s play, continuing good form from substitute Paudie Kissane, solid covering from Kieran O’Connor and the dominance of Shields.
The net effect of which was to neutralise the threat from Ian Ryan and Seanie Buckley and seriously undermine their challenge overall.
Goulding pointed in the 51st minute, then goaled from a ball crossed by Canty which was cleverly broken down by substitute Colm O’Neill – and then finished off one of the team’s best moves of the game to put Cork back in the lead.
To Limerick’s great credit, they were quickly on level terms – through Lavin – before O’Neill with a great kick and O’Connor (from a free) gave Cork a two-point advantage ten minutes from the end of normal time.
It set the scene for a dramatic conclusion to the game, with Limerick getting one back in the 68th minute through the crafty Kelly, minute but being frustrated in their endeavours to save the game through powerful Cork defending.
Scorers for Cork: D Goulding, 1-3; D O’Connor, 1-1 frees; J Masters and C O’Neill, 0-1 each.
Scorers for Limerick: I Ryan, 0-4; S Buckley, 0-3; P Ranahan, G Collins, S Lavin and S Kelly 0-1 each.
Subs: P Kissane for O’Regan, 27; C O’Neill for Masters, 50; A Walsh for Spillane, 59; P O’Flynn for Kerrigan, 61; F Goold for A O’Connor, 64.
Subs: K O’Callaghan for Joyce-Power, 34; J Stokes for O’Callaghan, 55; A Lane for Gallagher, 62; E Hogan for Browne, 65.
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
*Attendance: 20,676 (last year – 22,784, Cork v Kerry).
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