Limerick v Cork player ratings: Rebels couldn't bypass near flawless Kyle Hayes
18 May 2025; Kyle Hayes of Limerick as green smoke from a flare in the crowd crosses the pitch during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 4 match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
It was for a day like this that he made it back so rapidly and it was a day like this that showed why Limerick wanted him back in such a hurry.
Was masterful picking out and pinging his half-forward line while his save on Patrick Horgan on 23 minutes was the moment we all realised there was going to be no hope or way back for Cork.
Helped set the tone with an early block on Horgan while his brilliant Nash-like marauding run and point early on showed that we were been treated to the full Limerick experience.
Alan Connolly didn’t so much go missing as he was reported missing; Morrissey tied him up so effectively here, the Blackrock man couldn’t be sighted.
Like the rest of the fullback line, tied up his man and linked brilliantly with the halfback line in front of him.
Picked up an early yellow card like he did in Walsh Park but there was no fear or chance of him being taken off shortly thereafter here.
A brilliant trademark point from play on the stroke of halftime extinguished any notion Cork had of running towards the tunnel thinking their situation was retrievable.
Cork found a way to bypass him last July but they couldn’t avoid him here. Was everywhere, lording the air, commanding the group, sweeping back, breaking forward.
Was lucky not to pick up more than a yellow card but otherwise flawless.
The one Limerick back who was missing in Croke Park last year but was back for this. Cork and everyone else saw the difference he makes.
Limerick have a long summer still ahead but at the moment he’s in pole position for an All Star, just as he was a man of the match nominee here.
Showed both fight and flair, registering four turnovers to go with the 1-2 he notched from play before halftime.
Again commanded and controlled the centre tidily with the minimum of fuss.
Started quietly enough, missing a relatively-easy uncontested chance out on the wing, but then exploded into the game.
Repeatedly lost and dominated Eoin Downey, while his deft flick down for a David Reidy point was as impressive as any of his three points.
Was man of the match when this was still a contest; in fact it was his wizardry that saw to it that it ceased to be a contest.
1-4 of Limerick’s first 1-6 had his fingertips all over them, and that didn’t include his and the game’s probable standout moment, an ingenious lift, turn and pass to Tom Morrissey.
The primary beneficiary and recipient of Lynch’s genius and generosity.
Had two points fired over within 90 seconds, four by halftime and a fifth before being given a rest well before the end.
Niall O’Leary actually did quite well on him but the game turned on how he turned the Castlyons man in the corner before finishing one of the best individual goals the Gaelic Grounds has ever seen.
Epitomised Limerick’s appetite for work with how he turned Cork over from a Patrick Collins puckout early on while also contributing to the scoreboard.
The last of the Limerick forwards to score but that it was still before the 30-minute mark says more about the machine that is his team than any knock against him.
Also played a delightful
Cathal O’Neill and Peter Casey underlined their team’s depth and relentlessness with two tidy points apiece from play.
Seamus Flanagan also got a good 20 minutes of game-time into his legs and should get even more next week against Clare.
His puckout was one of the greatest weapons in Cork’s arsenal when the sides met last July but Limerick decoded him here.
Entrusted with marking Gillane, an assignment usually designated to Sean O’Donoghue, and outside that fatal slip and goal out by the corner actually did a decent, manful job at one of the most challenging jobs in hurling.
Held his own against Shane O’Brien before he was hardly adjudged to have illegally held Aaron Gillane. 6.5
Should have stuck on Cian Lynch in the lead up to Limerick’s first goal rather than dash to his designated man, David Reidy.
Otherwise was solid, winning his share of ball.
A bit of a dichotomy. Was one of Cork’s better players going forward, pointing superbly on the run and drilled a couple of lovely balls into Brian Hayes, while he dashed back to make a save on the goalline.
But the reality is his direct markers, Tom Morrissey followed by Cathal O’Neill, ended up with seven points from play between them.
Was switched to the centre to tag Cian Lynch but it didn’t work out.
Like Joyce was moved out of his normal domain to pick up a Limerick dangerman but while physically such matchups made sense, the Glen man fared as poorly on Hegarty as Joyce did on Lynch.
Has been one of Cork’s most effective and consistent performers this year but like everyone else in red was overrun and overwhelmed in the engine room.
Not on long enough to be rated, having to go off injured after just seven minutes.
To date this year has been to Cork what Cian Lynch is to Limerick but couldn’t get his hands on the ball to make Cork or even himself tick.
Was one of the few Cork forwards who early on brought the required intensity, forcing several turnovers and winning a few frees as well as clipping over a tidy point before fading into anonymity like everyone else in red.
The goaled 20-yard free was a mere consolation.
He’ll know that the dead-balls Cork needed him to score were a string of first-half frees when this game could have still been made into a contest.
Wasn’t his usual goal threat or any kind of threat at all. Will need to be next Sunday if Cork’s summer is to be prolonged.
Was Cork’s best forward on the day but while that would usually be quite the boast over the last year it hardly qualifies as one here.
Seamus Harnedy by virtue of striking over two points scored more than any other Cork player from play and as much as the starting full-forward line in total.
Cormac O’Brien also briefly lifted the Cork effort upon his introduction at halftime. Brian Roche like most of his teammates didn’t get to the pitch of it upon replacing Dalton early on.
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