Tom Morrissey leads the way as Limerick dispatch callow Cork

A home win was likely from the moment the sides were named, and a crowd of 2,362 witnessed Limerick play with a greater slickness in this Munster Hurling League clash

Colin O’Brien and William O'Donoghue contest a dropping ball. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster Hurling League: Limerick 1-28 Cork 0-16 

Limerick gave themselves a chance of qualification for the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League final as their greater collection of household names saw off a callow Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday night.

Having lost by two points to Clare at the weekend, this triumph leaves the Shannonsiders with a scoring difference of +13 – if Cork were to overcome Clare next Monday night, anything less than a 29-victory would send John Kiely’s side into the decider on January 17. Any other outcome would see Clare qualify.

A home win was likely from the moment the sides were named, and a crowd of 2,362 witnessed a more Limerick team play with a greater slickness – though the visitors were not helped by a worrying turnover rate on their own puckouts, both long and short.

While Colin O’Brien did have the game’s opening score in the first minute, it was the only time Cork led, with a pair of Tom Morrissey points putting Limerick in front.

Robbie O’Flynn is tackled by Matthew Fitzgerald during the Gaelic Grounds clash. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Morrissey, Peter Casey and Cian Lynch provided ten first-half points between them as the Shannonsiders amassed a 0-16 to 0-7 half-time lead – and that despite having 11 wides to just two for Cork, the first of those coming five minutes before half-time.

The closest either side came to a goal in the opening period was when a turnover afforded Jack O’Connor the chance to run at the Limerick defence – his low effort was well-placed but Colin Ryan in the Limerick goal did well to keep it out. Colm McCarthy did ensure that Cork took a point from that phase of play to leave it 0-4 to 0-2 with seven minutes gone but by the 16th it was 0-10 to 0-4 in favour of the hosts, for whom Will O’Donoghue was able to dictate matters at centre-back.

Long-range efforts in quick succession from wing-back Matthew Fitzgerald and Lynch moved them seven ahead and, while Cork wing-back Tom Hanley – who did show up well for the most part – replied, the hosts had four of the last five points of the half.

The lead might even have been more had John English’s surging run not been halted illegally following a good catch from Gearóid Hegarty.

Gearoid Hegarty races clear of Tom Hanley. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The 2020 hurler of the year was playing at corner-forward and had been influential in the first half despite not being among Limerick’s eight scorers. That statistic looked like changing in the 35th minute when Donnacha Ó Dálaigh’s pass across gave him a goal chance; while he sidestepped goalkeeper Brion Saunderson, Ger Millerick – excellent throughout - was there to make an intervention.

By that stage, Limerick had outscored Cork by 0-4 to 0-1 since half-time and Morrissey converted the 65 that accrued and another from a free immediately afterwards.

The lead stretched to 14 points, 0-23 to 0-9, before Cork had a mild flurry with points from Seán Desmond, Cathal McCarthy (free) and Jack Cahalane (sideline cut) but it was only brief respite.

Limerick led by 0-23 to 0-12 when sub Hugh Flanagan – who had gone close shortly beforehand – set up Ó Dálaigh for a goal and 15 points separated the sides at the end.

Scorers for Limerick: T Morrissey 0-6 (0-3 f, 0-2 65), D Ó Dálaigh 1-3, P Casey 0-4, C Lynch, J English 0-3 each, P O’Donovan 0-2, D O’Donovan, C Thomas, M Fitzgerald, G Hegarty, M Casey, J Finn, J Cosgrove 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: C McCarthy 0-3 (0-2 f), S Desmond, R O’Flynn, B O’Sullivan (0-2 f) 0-2 each, T Hanley, C Tobin, Colin O’Brien, J O’Connor, J Cahalane (0-1 sl), M Barrett 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: C Ryan; E Stokes, S Finn, B Murphy; C Thomas, W O’Donoghue, M Fitzgerald; C Lynch, D O’Donovan; J English, P Casey, T Morrissey; G Hegarty, D Ó Dálaigh, G Hegarty, P O’Donovan.

Subs: J Fitzgerald for O’Donovan, M Casey for O’Donoghue (both half-time), E Hurley for P Casey (43), D O’Shea for Thomas, H Flanagan for Lynch (both 46), J O’Connor for Hegarty, J Cosgrove for P O’Donovan, J Finn for Fitzgerald (all 56).

CORK: B Saunderson; C Doolan, E Roche, G Millerick; T Hanley, E Twomey, C Tobin; C Darcy, J Kearney; Colin O’Brien, C McCarthy, J O’Connor; R O’Flynn, S Desmond, J Cahalane.

Subs: B O’Sullivan for Colin O’Brien, Cormac O’Brien for Kearney (both half-time), J Casey for Tobin, B O’Flynn for Darcy, M Barrett for McCarthy (all 52).

Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).