Limerick retain McGrath Cup title

Limerick 2-09 Cork IT 1-03

Goals in either half from Ger Ahern and Micheal Reidy saw Limerick's footballers retain their McGrath Cup crown, defeating a valiant Cork IT side at the Gaelic Grounds.

Thirty-three-year-old midfielder John Quane picked up the county's third title in four years, just four months after quitting the inter-county scene.

The students were left counting the cost of seven first half wides, and a number of shots from both Daniel Goulding and Paul O'Flynn which hit the Limerick uprights.

The visitors led 1-00 to 0-02 after 19 minutes, despite the early concession of points to Limerick's Johnny Murphy and Sean Buckley.

Cork corner forward Brian Sheehan goaled past Mike Jones in the tenth minute, while a tricky Sheehan ball-in also had defender Johnny McCarthy saving Limerick blushes on their goal line.

Liam Kearns' home side reassumed the lead for a 1-03 to 1-01 half-time buffer nevertheless, with Ahern waltzing along the end line to net and another Murphy score cancelling out Alan Morgan's point.

The Treaty men lost Jim Donovan to the sin-bin on the restart but Reidy's 47th-minute penalty, after Colm Hickey was up-ended, coupled with well-taken points from Buckley, Conor Mullane and substitute Muiris Gavin saw them home.