Walsh and Wilk guide Cork U20s to vital first win of Munster campaign 

Cork's Ryan Deasy in action against Limerick. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Munster U20 HC: Cork 1-22 Limerick 1-20  

A massively important first round-robin win for the Cork U20 hurlers, even if they remain outside of Munster’s top three.

After drawing with Clare on the opening night and then falling to favourites Tipperary, nothing less than victory here would suffice to keep Noel Furlong’s charges in control of their own fate and in the hunt for a top-three Munster round-robin finish.

Defeat and likely elimination were the strongest of outcomes when Limerick roared back from five down on 44 minutes, 1-16 to 1-11, to take a one-point lead, 1-18 to 1-17, on 54 minutes. 

It was a controversial lead score. 

Mark O’Brien’s point from the open stand sideline was initially waved wide. But after intervention by the linesman, referee Nicky Barry instructed his umpire to raise the white flag.

Having managed only two points in the preceding 20 minutes and having watched as the lead and momentum went from them, the response and finish from the Cork boys was most admirable. Barry Walsh and his eighth free brought them level on 55 minutes.

Half-back Darragh Langan returned the hosts in front once more. Cork, again, had an answer. Timmy Wilk’s superb sideline cut was followed by another Walsh free and a confident strike from sub Adam O’Sullivan. 

The latter was fouled in the third minute of injury-time to enable Walsh to bring his frees total to double-digits and Cork to victory.

Barry Walsh, Cork, in possession against Jack Cosgrave, Limerick. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Cork are at home to winless Waterford in their final round-robin fixture next Wednesday, with Clare and Limerick meeting in Rathkeale. 

Limerick (0), Clare (-2), and Cork (-4) all currently sit on three points, and so a second victory for Cork will send them into either a Munster semi-final or final. A draw could also yet prove sufficient to progress to the knockout stages of the provincial championship.

Limerick trailed by five at the break. 1-13 to 1-8. They had been made to pay dearly for their inability to translate early dominance into white and green flags.

Their early dominance began with a green flag. A green flag that arrived as early as the 20th second. Robert O’Farrell cut in along the endline, Fintan Fitzgerald had his effort blocked, Donal Coughlan had not.

A three-in-a-row of points from Dara Ferland, Mark O’Brien (free) and Ferland again shoved the hosts 1-3 to 0-2 clear. 

Their failure to push further ahead was their own doing. They had four wides registered by the 11th minute, plus a fifth white flag opportunity blocked down. 

Around the quarter-hour mark, and when leading by two, Donal Coughlan was denied a second goal by Cork 'keeper Daniel O'Connell.

Cork were not without their early opportunities. 

They dropped two wide and two more short before Barry Walsh clipped his first from play and third of the evening on nine minutes. 

The majority of the play, though, was taking place at the far end, even if the scoreboard disagreed with that statement.

Cork wrestled control of the scoreboard and proceedings with Timmy Wilk’s 17th-minute goal. It came as part of an unanswered 1-3. It pushed the visitors in front for the first time.

Between the 16th and 23rd minute, they outgunned the Treaty by 1-5 to 0-1. Wilk, Ben Walsh, Barry O’Flynn, and Ross O’Sullivan were all to the fore.

That three subs - Adam O’Sullivan, Mark O’Brien, and Finn O’Brien - finished up the scoresheet emphasised that all hands were required to eke out this first win of the campaign.

Scorers for Cork: Barry Walsh (0-12, 0-10 frees); T Wilk (1-2, 0-1 sc); B O’Flynn (0-2); P O’Shea, R O’Sullivan, D O’Connell (free), A O’Sullivan, M O’Brien, F O’Brien (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: M O’Brien (0-5, 0-4 frees); R O’Farrell, F Fitzgerald (0-3 each); D Coughlan (1-0); D Ferland (0-2); J Cosgrove, D Langan, M Fitzgerald, J Finn, H Flanagan, S Duff, D Frewen (0-1 each).

Cork: D O’Connell (Dromina); D O’Leary (Ballincollig), J O’Brien (Fermoy), D Cashman (Bride Rovers); E Guinane (Valley Rovers), D Murnane (Carrigtwohill), T Wilk (Cobh); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own); J Murphy (Mallow), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), R Deasy (Ballymartle); B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), J Wigginton Barrett (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: A O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig) for J O’Brien (36, inj); M O’Brien (Duglas) for Wigginton Barrett (40); F O’Brien (Erin’s Own) for R O’Sullivan (43); J Murphy (Dromina) for O’Shea (50); D McCarthy (Killeagh) for J Murphy (57).

Limerick: F O’Brien (Bruree); J Murphy (Patrickswell), D Scully (Dromin Athlacca), S Casey (Bruff); J Cosgrove (Ahane), A O’Connell (Doon), D Langan (Monaleen); M Fitzgerald (Monaleen), J Finn (Na Piarsaigh); D Coughlan (Doon), D Ferland (Monaleen), H Flanagan (Garryspillane); F Fitzgerald (Mungret St Paul’s), R O’Farrell (Kildimo Pallaskenry), M O’Brien (Mungret St Paul’s).

Subs: S Duff (Mungret St Paul’s) for Coughlan (35); D Hurley (Hospital Herbertstown) for M Fitzgerald (40); B Adams (Ballybrown) for Ferland (45); D Frewen (Glenroe) for Finn (52).

Referee: N Barry (Waterford).

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