Winning start for Cork football boss Peadar Healy against Limerick

By Eoghan Cormican in Mallow

Cork 1-10 Limerick 0-12

Peadar Healy enjoyed a winning start to his tenure as Cork football manager as his team eked out a narrow victory over Limerick in this McGrath Cup opener today.

Failing to move more than two points clear of Limerick in the opening quarter of the second-half, Cork found themselves in arrears on 60 minutes.

Three on the bounce from Sean McSweeney (0-2) and James Naughton nudged Limerick in front for the first time in proceedings.

It was a lead they were unable to hold however as Daniel Goulding kicked two points in the 68th minute to secure victory for Healy.

Cork returned to the dressing-room 1-5 to 0-7 in front, a 35th minute Daniel Goulding free edging Healy’s side back into pole position after the visitors – through Stephen Kelly, Ian Corbett, Sean O’Dea and Sean McSweeney (0-2) – had kicked five of the previous six points to level matters.

Limerick’s scoring spree was in direct response to Kevin O’Driscoll’s 19th minute goal, the Cork half-forward set up by Ruairí Deane and Luke Connolly.

And while the Treatymen fought all the way to the finish, they were let down by six second-half wides.

In the weekend's other McGrath Cup clash, a late goal by local star Kieran Malone earned Clare a 1-10 to 1-9 victory over Tipperary at Miltown Malbay.

At half-time Tipperary enjoyed a 1-6 to 0-4 lead and were still in front with seven minutes remaining when David Tubridy set up Malone to finish from close range

Scorers for Cork: D Goudling (0-5, 0-2 frees); K O’Driscoll (1-0); S Hickey, D MacEoin (0-2 each); L Connolly (0-1, 0-1 free).

Scorers for Limerick: S McSweeney (0-3, 0-1 free); I Corbett, S Kelly (0-2 each); S O’Dea, B Fanning, D Neville (0-1 each).

Cork: M Aodh Martin; C O’Driscoll, J Davis, L Harrington; A O’Donovan, T Clancy, M Collins; I Maguire, R Deane; S Beston, L Connolly, K O’Driscoll; D MacEoin, D Goulding, S Hickey.

Subs: B Coughlan for Connolly (HT), D Hazel for Harrington (HT), C O’Hanlon for Beston (HT), P Kelleher for K O’Driscoll (59), B Daly for Deane (65).

Limerick: B Scanlon; J McCarthy, P Browne, P White; S Cahill, I Corbett, S O’Dea; G Hegarty, D Treacy; B Fanning, P Ranahan, S Buckley; S McSweeney, S Kelly, D Neville.

Subs: C Moran for McCarthy (30 mins), S Flanagan for White (44, inj), J Naughton for Ranahan (53).

Referee: A Kissane (Waterford).