Cork edge through as Limerick pay the penalty

Cork 2-10 Limerick 0-10: In the end, Cork reached a seventh straight EirGrid Munster U21FC final as Limerick were overcome at Páirc Uí Rinn last night, but it was far from straightforward.

One could say that Limerick’s extra-time quarter-final win over Tipperary ultimately had two effects which cancelled each other out — the match practice advantage they had over Cork allowed them to outperform their hosts in the first half, but the 80 minutes caught up with them as the Rebels held them to just a point in the second half.

The game wasn’t fully safe until sub Michael Hurley goaled for Cork at the death, but they showed a big improvement in the second period, which left manager Seán Hayes pleased.