Rebels’ hunt for talent goes on

Cork 5-14 Limerick 2-17

Stephen Moylan, Michael O’Sullivan and Cathal Naughton all found the net for Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s side, with Brian Hartnett scoring four points, though Rebels selector Kieran Kingston pointed out there will be more auditions before the Munster championship.

“Paudie’s a huge loss to us, so there are a few contenders,” admitted Kingston. “Guys put their hands up tonight but it’s only one part of the jigsaw, we have a game next Sunday against Tipperary, then there’s a break before championship and we have a match with Galway after that, a couple of weeks before we play Clare or Waterford.

Leading by 2-8 to 0-11, Cork’s victory was all but assured when the excellent Daniel Kearney, Moylan and Naughton found the net early in the second half, and while a stronger Limerick cut the deficit as the 30-minute second half wore on, they could bridge the gap fully. Aware of the limitations of such a game, Kingston was nevertheless happy with the outing.

Games like this are about giving a chance to fellas who mightn’t have got much game-time during the league.”

Declan Hannon and Seán Tobin impressed as Limerick led early on, but Cork never trailed after Luke O’Farrell’s goal put them 1-3 to 0-4 in front in the 12th minute, O’Sullivan following that with another.

Hartnett also got in on the act, and with Limerick reliant on Hannon for scores, Cork led by three at half-time.

The gap stretched to 11 points, 5-9 to 0-13, after Kearney’s low finish, Moylan’s fine pulled effort and Naughton’s penalty all raised green flags early in the second half. James Ryan was doing well at midfield and then Niall Moran goaled to lift Limerick. When Hannon goaled with three minutes left there were just six points between the teams.

With a minute left, Darren McCarthy denied Moran, and from the resultant 65 Limerick won a penalty but Hannon’s effort was repelled.

Scorers for Cork: S Moylan 1-2, B Hartnett 0-4 (0-3 frees), M O’Sullivan, D Kearney 1-1 each, C Naughton (1-0 penalty), L O’Farrell 1-0 each, S Harnedy, S Moylan 0-2 each, R O’Shea (0-1 free), K Lane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: D Hannon 1-10 (0-7 frees, 0-1 sideline, 0-1 ‘65’), N Moran 1-0, S Tobin 0-2, K Downes, D Reidy, S Dowling, S Hickey, T Quaid 0-1 each.

CORK: D McCarthy; S O’Neill, S McDonnell, K Murphy; S White, M Ellis, C O’Sullivan, R O’Shea, D Kearney; C Naughton, S Harnedy, M O’Sullivan; S Moylan, L O’Farrell, B Hartnett.

Subs: K Lane for C O’Sullivan (52), B Cooper for O’Farrell (54).

LIMERICK: A Murphy; A Dempsey, R McCarthy, T Condon; T Ryan, W McNamara, G O’Mahony; J Ryan, C King; D Reidy, D Hannon, P Aherne; K Downes, S Dowling, S Tobin.

Subs: P O’Brien for J Ryan, S Hickey for Aherne, D Breen for Reidy, T Quaid for Tobin (all half-time), N Moran for Downes, G Mulcahy for Dowling (both 42), J Ryan for McCarthy (50).

Referee: P Casey (Waterford).