Rebel hurlers continue resurgence against Limerick

Cork 1-20 Limerick 2-16

Neil Ronan supplied the match-winning point as Cork’s resurgence continued this afternoon at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, where the Rebels’ 2008 panellists were to the fore against Limerick.

Cork looked dead and buried when a 57th-minute goal from Donal O’Grady was quickly followed by a point from the excellent Niall Moran.

Moran’s ninth point of this Munster derby put Limerick 2-16 to 1-15 ahead but incredibly Cork managed to rally and score five points to retake the lead just before the final whistle.

In a lively opening, the home side burst ahead thanks to a goal after only 90 seconds from Jerry O’Connor, who was making his first start of the season.

He rasped his shot beyond the reach of Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray, after being teed up by a pass from Kieran Murphy.

O’Connor and his twin brother Ben added subsequent and Cathal Naughton also found his range as the Rebels took a 1-3 to 0-2 lead. Moran had opened the Shannonsiders’ account.

The rain pelted down but the standard of hurling was particularly high and Limerick rose to the occasion, getting back level at 1-6 apiece before the half-hour.

Moran took his tally to 0-5 and then the goal came when David Breen did well to keep the ball in play, close to the touchline, he whipped a cross in and Pat Tobin was well-placed to bat home past Donal Og Cusack.

That strike inspired Limerick to take a 1-11 to 1-9 half-time lead, with Moran (0-6) their leading scorer in front of a 4,574-strong crowd.

The Ahane ace continued his tour de force performance by floating a sideline cut between the posts, on the resumption, and adding a ‘65’ for good measure.

Jerry O’Connor and Tom Kenny replied for Cork, who lost Sean Og O hAilpin to a calf injury and ‘Fraggy’ Murphy to a knock to the leg during a hard-fought second half.

And Cork’s goose looked cooked when Limerick midfielder O’Grady burst through and beat net minder Cusack with a powerful and well-placed shot.

The sides had been level on six occasions but that seemed to be the defining score, especially when Moran added a ‘65’ just moments later.

But with all they have come through this season, you certainly cannot question the spirit in the Cork camp and they delighted the home fans with a brilliant burst of scores over the closing quarter-hour.

Ben O’Connor struck his sixth and seventh points of the game and then the fresh legs kicked in as substitutes Pa Cronin, Tadhg Og Murphy and finally Ronan planted shots between the uprights to drive the Rebels to their most satisfying win for some time.