Carried out on their shields: how Limerick's bravehearts rated
LEADING FROM THE FRONT: Limerick’s Aaron Gillane celebrares scoring a point. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
: Not much he could have done about the Cork goal. Tipped a Shane Barrett shot over close to half-time. Brilliant late save to deny Patrick Horgan. Struggled to make his long puck-outs stick in the second-half.
Left swatting at air as he chased Brian Hayes for Cork's goal. Started out on Hayes before switching onto Alan Connolly. Pinned back all afternoon though gambled at the death and roamed forward as Limerick chased redemption.
Had stints on Alan Connolly and Patrick Horgan. Cork's inside forwards brought the heat straight away and Morrissey spent the duration in fire-fighting mode.
: Began the game on Patrick Horgan before shifting onto Brian Hayes. Finished up marking Hayes. He won't remember this one fondly but he can take huge credit for lasting nearly 80 minutes in the cauldron after his cruciate problems.
: A generational talent but an afternoon to forget. Marked Seamus Harnedy and had his pockets picked for four points before the experienced St Ita's man had emptied his tank. Scored 0-2 and hit two wides.
: Under huge pressure all day and moved out onto the wing for most of the second-half. Didn't have the sort of impact he was hoping for as Cork turned up the heat in the middle third.
Turned over for an early Darragh Fitzgibbon point. Blocked well later on to deny Patrick Horgan a point. Spent the second-half at centre-back. None of his trademark bursts forward due to the pressure Cork exerted. Struck a solitary long-ranger.
: Lined up against Darragh Fitzgibbon but played a peripheral role in that vital midfield battle. Fitzgibbon finished with three points and lorded it.
: The number 11 swapped with Cathal O'Neill and partnered up with O'Donoghue at midfield. Failed to have anything like the impact he is capable of, mainly down to Tim O'Mahony. Pinched a point and won a free that was converted but those were rare highlights.
A busy figure on the right wing in the opening half, scoring two points and drilling two wides. Picked up by Ciaran Joyce. Didn't have the impact he'd have hoped for in the second-half and eventually taken off.
: Wore number nine but played in the half-forward line. Fired three points, including a beauty from the right sideline, but also three wides. No questioning his commitment or work-rate and he lasted the duration of an epic.
: Not a whole pile came off for the towering number 10. Struck a poor first-half wide, gave the ball away with an errant pass up the centre and was turned over for an eventual Declan Dalton point. Almost set up a goal and hit a late cracker of a point but it was a difficult afternoon.
: Renewed acquaintances with Sean O'Donoghue. A terrific duel. Gillane scored 10 points, six from play. Pulled for over carrying in the first-half after dropping his hurl. Two great goal chances, both wasted.
: Tracked by Eoin Downey. Scored a tidy 10th minute point from the right wing, set up Gillane for another. But faded out as the game wore on and was the first Limerick player hooked after 52 minutes. 6 David Reidy: Helped himself to three points in the first-half, at Niall O'Leary's expense, but the scores dried up after that. Taken off in the third quarter as Limerick opted for alternatives up front.
Tasked with grabbing scores and largely delivered. Three efforts, two points.
Showed his full skillet for terrific 61st and 68th minute scores.
: Brought into a battle zone at a difficult period and couldn't turn things around. 6 Aidan O'Connor: Got the last 10 minutes or so, registered one wide.
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