LIVEAs it happened: Limerick defeat Cork in the Alllianz Hurling League Division 1A final

All the action at the Gaelic Grounds.

Diarmaid Byrnes of Limerick in action against Séamus Harnedy of Cork during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

HL Div 1A final: Cork 1-21 Limerick 1-27

74 mins One more free for Limerick. Kyle Hayes rather sows it into Niall O'Leary and Gillane puts it over. All over. Limerick deserved six-point winners and looked six-point winners for most of the contest in truth. Stayed tuned for report and reaction from the lads at the ground. 

73 mins David Reidy puts the lid on it for Limerick after a neat move. Darragh Fitz replies with a long ranger. Aaron Gillane named TG4 man of match of a display of consummate wristiness.

71 mins Cahalane straight on the front foot, finds Robbie O'Flynn, who drills just wide from narrow angle.  That goal was required.  Colin Coughlan on for Byrnes.

69 mins Kyle Hayes to Gillane who decorates another score. Someone poieaxed Hayes after the pass. Mark Coleman yellow. Must have been him. Limerick's big guns have surged for the tape. Four mins added. Damien Cahalane on for Rob Downey. 

Brian Hayes of Cork in action against Mike Casey of Limerick during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

67 mins Hego now collects over the far side of the field, cuts back inside Millerick and fires over. Two big contributions. Dalton on for Cork. Tim O'Mahony wide.

66 mins Ethan Hurley in for Cian Lynch

65 mins Handy free in for Connolly after a touch on the ground. Back to two points. Hegarty catches the puckout, wins the free, and clenches the fist like he knows that was a big one. That free did get moved up, so must have been dissent. Looked clearcut. Gillane points. 

63 mins Gillane dances around Millerick. Tries an ambitous one from an angle. Collins saves. 65. Byrnes slots it.

61 mins Coleman takes on the run and slides one over from the middle on the wind. Down to two. Cork coming strong. 

60 mins Flurry of action both ways. Rob Downey a touch lucky not to be done for charging. Robbie O'Flynn in. Tim O'Mahony with a long range free. Down to three.

58 mins Remember that Cian Lynch missed pickup? Forget about it. He just magicked a pickup in more familiar style and wins a free.  Gillane now on those. He scores.

55 mins W Buckley with a massive point from out the middle. Cork getting on top and Kiely sends on Darragh O Donovan for Aidan O'Connor.

54 mins Patrick Collins catches in a crowd. Barrett tracks back and hooks Hego. Quality cameos. And then Gillane arcs over a ridiculous one from  the sideline. The finger goes up to salute that one. Hugh O'Connor responds tho with a less artistic one that's worth the same. Tim O'Mahony drills another from midway. Four in it. Cork crowd finding voice.

52 mins. Ooh Cork unhappy. A passage of pure championship tempo. Cork came out of about six rucks and Shane Barrett penalised for a throw when a goal looked on. 

51 mins Willian Buckley darts, collects and fires over for Cork. 

49 mins Hugh O'Connor on for Harnedy.  

47 mins Barry Nash finds Gillane who fires a beauty over his shoulder. Limerick working it tidily into the wind. Brian Hayes replies tho with his third. And then Cathal O'Neill catches and launches a brilliant point from the sideline. He's back on - that was only a bloodsub.

46 mins Gillane is on full power today whenever he gets it. Turns and bulldozes past Millerick who pulls him down. Another free in. Scored. Mark Coleman on for Mullins. 

44 mins Another Aidan O'Connor free. Points it. Cork may need to rein in the fouling. 

42 mins In a collector's item, Cian Lynch missed a pickup. Nothing came of it tho. Tommy O Connell charges through for a point tho 

40 mins Hegarty knocked over by Rob Downey for another free. Messy start to the second half. O'Connor points this one. 1-15 to 1-11

37 mins Limerick's concession to playing against he wind seems to be to leave one man up there instead of two at the moment. Cork half was nearly unoccupied there. Hegarty caught the end of a Tommy O'Connell pull and seems to hurt. Accident. Alan Connolly sticks over a free. Cork supporters, dedicated monitors of freetaking timekeeping, unhappy with Aidan o'Connor delay. He puts it wide to placate them. 

35 mins Kyle Hayes fouled breaking through and a free on the 45 for O'Connor who has has hiccups today on the frees. But he scores this. 

35 mins Ready to go again. No further changes at the break. 

There was a round of Cork Hurling League action this weekend too. Hoggie hit 1-5 on his return for Glen Rovers but they were well beaten by the Rockies. 

Half time. Hectic last few minutes and Cork selector William Biggane says the wind was a big factor. Happy to be just three down. Cork didn't do much hurling for 25 minutes but seem to have stabilised matters now. Will have the wind advantage second half. 

36 mins If that doesn't lift Cork? O'Connell emerged from the ruck, sprinted half the length of the field, found Hayes, who controlled and fired over. Two yellows looked just about right. Both were rooting and elbowing. O'Connell's reply was slightly higher and English went down. 

35 mins Sean O'Donoghue off injured. Ger Mellerick on. A dispute has ignited around the site of the throw ball which hasn't been taken yet. Tommy O'Connell was the Cork agressor. In a bit of trouble possibly. The officials are in conclave. Two yellows. Adam English too.

William O'Donoghue of Limerick and Shane Barrett of Cork tussle at the start of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

33 mins Brilliant hook by Tommy O'Connell foils an Adam English goal attempt. Then Patrick Collins saves brilliantly from Cian Lynch. Limerick were taking no for answer and seemed to score pushover try goal. But is it allowed. Seemingly not. Throw ball on 14. 

30 mins; Hego's not having that. He fires one over. But Cathal O'Neill limps off which will concern Kiely. Peter Casey on. Alan Connolly dances and his capsized by three or four surrounding defenders. Handy free in for him. Four in it. 

29 mins: Aidan O'Connor misses another same side to murmours of disquite around the Gaelic Grounds. Darragh Fitz fires over from wide on the run. Joyce wins a battle with Shane O'Brien to further indicate Cork have started. 

27 mins: Alan Connolly added another free to pull Cork closer and they have another now after Will O'Donoghue pinged for playing the hurley. He notches again. only five in it and Limerick tide has been stemmed for now anyway. 

Here's that Gillane goal

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22 mins Barry Nash chances picking one off the ground in a ruck. Doesn't get away with it. Alan Connolly points. Followed by another handy free to cut gap to 7. And Aidan O'Connor puts his fist one wide.

20 mins Another free for Limerick, notched by O'Connor. Cork defence under the cosh. Nine in it.

18 mins Brian Hayes takes a Cork point. Tim O'Mahony pulled for overcarrying. Does a fair bit of protesting. Will the new rules come into play? Apparently not. Maybe it was polite protesting. 

16 mins GILLANE GOAL. Again found in space, took on O'Donoghue and finished with a rasper. 

14 mins Again Cork intercepted trying to navigate out through the crowded middle. Limerick pick it off for a Shane O'Brien point 11- to 1-2

13 mins Cork are having to play through a Limerick 'mid block' of about a dozen lads, then Limerick are finding two up top in acres. Gillane fouled for another free. Eoin Downey picked up a yellow too a while back. And Adam English adds his third. Buckley replies for Cork after nice interchange.

10 mins Aidan O C adds another free for Limerick.

9 mins Points exchanged while I was typing that. Cathal O'Neill and Seamus Harnedy. Game on now perhaps. 

8 mins Turning point. Big gaffe by Byrnes, knocking it across the back like a Premier League full back tempting the press. Intercepted by Brian Hayes for a goal. 

6 mins Diarmaid Byrnes has thundered onto two  catches like a train. Left first shot short, ot this one. 6-0. Cork might not be shadow boxing but chasing shadows so far. 

4 mins: Gillane took Sean O D for a spin and tried to finish one-handed. Saved by Collins for 65. Acres of space in Cork full back line there. Aidan O C lands the 65. 5-0

3 mins: Rob Downey pulled for a throw coming out and Aidan O'Connor applies punishment. 4-0 Limerick.

2 mins; William Buckley sends wide for Cork. Gillane off the mark for Limerick 3-0.

1 min: Adam English runs onto a Kyle Hayes pass to fire the opener within 35 seconds. Brian Hayes goes for goal and finds the side neeting. English, from the puckout, launches another. Great start for him.

Parade done, anthem sunk, ground full, ready to tear into this. And they are off.

3:56pm John Fogarty is in the press box and will be bringing updates as well as reports and quotes later. Dalo was also hoping to sneak in without a ticket. Hopefully he's not outside watching on his phone. Plenty on the website later, however this goes. Kieran Shannon is on the terrace with his young lad and will file later. Hoggie will also be sending his thoughts tomorrow afternoon. 

3:53pm TG4's cinematic cameras ideal for looking back afterwards and seeing which crowd lost it in the parade.

3:52pm Cork's Darragh Fitz wins ref Shane Hynes' toss. 

3:51pm Here are Eamonn Murphy's three key battles 

3:46pm No changes to the named teams, by all accounts. 

3:43pm Read Patrick Horgan's preview column ahead of throw-in. Whatever happens till  give the managers valuable pointers for Championship, he says. 

3:41pm Ben insists the new rules on dissent will make no difference on the Cork line because they never give out to referees. But they'll be extra careful anyway just in case. 

3:40pm Midfield will be huge today, reckons Ben O'Connor. John Kiely says it's time now to put your cards on the table.

3:37pm Larry Ryan with you now for Cork-Limerick. Offered several tickets this morning. Feed of Easter eggs diminishing appetite for travel? Robbie O'Flynn was just on TG4, giving one final dismissal to last year's All-Ireland final fallout rumours. "Laughable," says Robbie. 

3.34pm On the whistle match report from Stephen Barry at the TUS Gaelic Grounds for us.

Two years ago, Clare claimed Division 1A silverware en route to an All-Ireland title. They’ll be hoping the Division 1B trophy will have a similar momentum-building effect after holding off a Dublin fightback at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

3.16pm A spirited effort from Dublin but it just wasn't to be their day as Clare secure the Division 1B title. 

Stay tuned to our website and this blog for the match report which will be posted shortly before we turn our attention to the Division 1A final between Limerick and Cork.

Full time: Clare 2-26 (32) Dublin 3-20 (29)

FULL TIME!

FIESTY FINAL: Tempers flare during the game between Dublin's Eoghan O'Donnell and David Reidy of Clare. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo.

72mins Dublin free in. They need a goal. Not close enough to shoot.

72mins Dublin sideline, they need a goal.

72mins Dublin give away the ball close to their own goal and Ryan makes them pay with a point.

71mins Clare drop a free in short. But Dublin can't clear their lines.

THREE MINUTES ADDED ON!

69mins Free in for Dublin, will he go for goal? No. O'Sullivan taps over.

68mins Diarmuid Ryan races clear and sends the sliotar over. Clare lead by three.

62 nóim @GaaClare 2-22 (28)@DubGAAOfficial 3-17 (26)

Cúl! Fergal Whitley leis an gcríoch agus beidh dráma againn i Luimneach 😯

Dublin find their 3rd goal, and we are heading for a dramatic finale!

BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺@AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/zxp3vz7kLu

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 5, 2026

66mins That could be huge as Quilligan stretches to turn O'Sullivan's goalbound effort over the bar. The two teams then swap scores and the gaps remains at two points with three minutes to play.

GREAT SAVE BY EIBHEAR QUILLIGAN!

65mins Ian Galvin ensures Clare hit back with a quick point.

64mins Fergal Whitely pulls on the ball and blasts it past the keeper. Game well and truly on.

GOAL FOR DUBLIN!

60mins Diarmuid Ryan settles any Clare nerves with a nice point.

59mins O'Sullivan fires over a monster free and Dublin cut Clare's lead to four.

JUMP AROUND: Clare's Conor Cleary reacts after a free was awarded against him. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

58mins Peter Duggan sends over another free.

56mins Dub sub: Dara Purcell is on for Darragh Power.

Clare sub: John Conlon for Darragh Lohan.

53mins Cian O'Sullivan scores back-to-back frees and Dublin are back to just five points down.

52mins Great score at each end as Ryan Taylor's score from distance for Clare is quickly cancelled out by Dublin's own number nine Conor Donohue.

Cathal Malone of Clare in action against Paddy Doyle. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

48mins A worrying sight for Clare fans as Mark Rodgers hobbles off with an injury.

47mins A lovely score there by Fergal Whitely for Dublin.

44mins Rodgers wins and converts a free. Three in a row now for Clare and Rodgers. They've finally settled into the second half.

41 nóim@GaaClare 2-15 (21)@DubGAAOfficial 2-10 (16)

Tá sé sin i bhfad níos fearr ó Bhaile Átha Cliath agus tá siad ag teacht ar ais sa chluiche.

Brian Hayes with a nice score to reduce Clare's lead 🙌

BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺@AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/q74e8ZEbcT

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 5, 2026

42mins Clare needed a score and Mark Rodgers delivers from a free. Rodgers quickly fires over another free to extend the Banner's lead to six.

42mins Dublin's excellent start to the second half continues with two more unanswered points.

39mins Three points on the bounce now for the Dubs as O'Sullivan sends over a free. He then sends over another free to make it 2-15 to 2-9.

38mins And Darragh Power fires over to reduce the deficit to 8 points.

36mins Dublin reduce to the deficit to nine points shortly after the restart through Conor Donohue. They've also made three changes during the break. Diarmaid Ó Dulaing, Paddy Smyth and Conor Groarke come in for Ronan Hayes, Andrew Dunphy and John Bellew.

SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!

2.31pm Thanks Shane, I'll take it from here. Andrew Horgan on now to talk you all through the best of the action in the second half where Dublin have a mountain to climb against Clare.

HT: Clare take a healthy lead into the interval. 

No sign of the new 20m free impacting this Division 1B final thus far. Brian Lohan has visibly questioned some decisions but nothing to the point of conceding a free.

You can expect Dublin to land more ball on John Hetherton in the second half but that was a pretty clinical half by Clare. Their inside line are having a field day. JF

35 mins: Ó Dúliang taps over a routine free, while Meehan fires over an excellent score at the opposite end. Mark Rogers adds another. 

32 mins: Rogers and Ryan Taylor fire over points for Clare but Diarmaid Ó Dúliang will be disappointed with a missed free at the other end.

30 mins: Conor Donohue with two in a row for the Dubs. Gap down to six.

28 mins: Excellent score from Meehan for score. Very tidy. Lead out to eight.

25 mins: Dublin are doing silly things. Eoghan O'Donnell loops a stick pass across the field and Paddy Smyth has to take a yellow to stop Shane O'Donnell. JF

21 mins: Cian O'Sullivan strikes back. goals aplenty in the Gaelic Grounds. O'Sullivan gathers possession and finishes past Clare 'keeper Quilligan. Rogers replies with a free.

17 mins: Beautifully-taken goal by Meehan. Clare outscored Dublin despite the 10-minute numerical advantage. A lot of ball breaking The Banner's way but they look on it. JF

16 mins: Clare starting to make serious inroads. Fine Shane Meehan finish opens up a nice gap for The Banner.

15 mins: Rogers hits another from placed-ball.

14 mins: Clare free knocked over by Rogers.

10 mins: Fine scores from both Shane O'Donnell and Mark Rogers have Brian Lohan's Clare motoring. Darragh Power on the scoresheet for Dublin. 

8 mins: Penalty confidently dispatched by John Hetherton, but the reply from Clare is instant and emphatic. Shane O'Donnell's goal.

7 mins: Conor Cleary had his hands full with John Hetherton before Hayes was black-carded there. A damp atmosphere in Limerick thus far. John Fogarty

Clare's Shane O’Donnell. Pic: Tom O’Hanlon/Inpho

6 mins: Cynical trip from Rory Hayes leads to a black card and a penalty for Dublin. 

4 mins: Mark Rodgers earns a free and converts. 

1.45pm: Game underway.

1.42pm: Conor Groarke starts in place of Andrew Dunphy for Níall Ó Ceallacháin's Dubs.

1.30pm: Welcome to another Irish Examiner Sport liveblog - we'll talk you through the action at the Gaelic Grounds as Clare take on Dublin in the Division 1B hurling final. 

Here's the team news: 

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, Niall O'Farrell, Cathal Malone; Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor; Peter Duggan, David Reidy, David Fitzgerald; Shane Meehan, Shane O'Donnell, Mark Rodgers.

Subs: Éamonn Foudy, John Conlon, Dylan McMahon, Ian Galvin, Diarmuid Stritch, Jack O'Neill, Cian Galvin, Jack Kirwan, Daithí Lohan, Aron Shanagher, Senan Dunford.

Dublin: Seán Brennan; Conor McHugh, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell; Paddy Doyle, Chris Crummey, Andrew Dunphy; Conor Burke, Conor Donohoe; Fergal Whitely, Brian Hayes, Darragh Power; Diarmaid Ó Dúliang, John Hetherton, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: Eddie Gibbons, Paddy Dunleavy, Conal Ó Riain, Seán Gallagher, Davy Keogh, John Bellew, David Lucey, Dara Purcell, Jack Meagher, Conor Groarke.