Cork v Limerick: Rebels put old rivals on the back foot after another epic 

John Kiely's side had Cian Lynch dismissed at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 

JOB DONE: Cork’s Seán O'Donoghue celebrates with supporters after the game. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Cork 2-22 Limerick 1-23 

The All-Ireland champions beaten. The League champions beaten. In the space of seven days, Cork have healed a great many sores. Their progression out of Munster is all but taken care of. Their summer is alive.

For the first time since the introduction of the round-robin series, Cork have claimed maximum points from their opening two games. For the first time since the second year of the round-robin, 2019, Limerick have lost their opening championship bout.

Where it was the absent Aaron Gillane who saw red in this fixture eight years ago, it was Cian Lynch who was sent off on this occasion. His 50th minute dismissal was an off-the-ball incident that had Tim O’Mahony on the deck.

Cork led by the minimum at the time. They had only taken the lead for the first time five minutes earlier. Trailing by 1-11 to 0-16 at the break, Alan Connolly’s 45th minute goal - teed up by Brian Hayes - delivered the overtaking movement.

Cork, as was obvious to the 43,369 crowd, had been threatening a second green flag from the corner of the South Stand-City End. Nickie Quaid had denied Hayes from exactly the same angle as he was shortly after beaten by Connolly.

Two Darragh Fitzgibbon frees immediately following the red stretched the Cork lead to three. It was their largest lead of the day. Even with numerical advantage, there was next to no space to be located and exploited.

Sunday, down at the Páirc, was claustrophobic. It was bruising. Bodies piled everywhere. The last Limerick free, in search of a winning goal, was delayed by over two minutes as Rob Downey, laid out, received treatment. He was eventually subbed.

Ciarán Joyce was gone after four minutes. Alan Connolly had to depart for eight minutes after his goal. Seán O’Donoghue looked at one point as if injury might also conquer him.

The 14-man visitors twice cut the deficit to the minimum in the final quarter. On 67 minutes, they returned in front. Darragh O’Donovan was fouled, the free moved into the centre after a coming together of players on both sides. Diarmuid Byrnes came forward. His shot was poorly struck but somehow hopped into the net. It doesn’t always require a bullet. 1-23 to 2-19.

The play leading up to the green flag captured the manic intensity of the final scenes. First Diarmuid Healy was hooked as he shot. Then O’Donovan was hooked as he shot. Nobody got even half an inch.

The Cork response to Byrnes’ goal could yet define their summer. It has already defined their provincial series. A three-in-a-row, in injury-time, from Connolly (two frees) and Fitzgibbon settled a marvellously enthralling debate.

Having had to wait a week longer than everyone else, Limerick’s holding stall had hardly a hinge left by 2pm. They were utterly relentless. Utterly ravenous.

Shane O’Brien’s ninth minute point pushed them five in front. Their opponents had yet to raise a white flag. Their opponents had only registered two shots by this juncture, only one of which was on target. Their opponents didn’t register the first of those until the seventh minute.

Nothing more than a Shane Barrett wide and Brian Hayes blocked point attempt across the opening nine minutes highlighted the extent of Cork’s submission.

The notebook wasn’t sparing ink early doors. There was almost too much to document. James Owens not whistling for the game’s opening free until the 13th minute will tell you how little pause there was to the opening exchanges. There wasn’t even time for blinking.

Ciarán Joyce departed four minutes in. The most anticipated match-up coming into the fixture was he and Gillane. We hadn’t even reached the fifth minute and the stage was clear of both actors.

Byrnes, Hegarty, English, and Cathal O’Neill put early pen strokes beside their name. Limerick’s interplay was cohesive and clever. Their full-back line was repelling every long delivery pumped in on top of them.

Aidan O’Connor’s attempt to shove the Treaty six in front fell short. The 10th minute play ended with Brian Hayes rifling Cork’s belated opener. A turnover on Aidan O’Connor was the source of Cork’s second, provided by Darragh Fitzgibbon.

O’Connor did not have a hectic League final. Those mistakes were quickly parked. In the plus column, he’d already assisted a Cathal O’Neill point. In the four-in-row that ensued for a 0-9 to 0-2 Limerick advantage, he was responsible for all bar one.

Cork had only got away four shots from play in the opening 20 minutes. Their fifth was a Shane Barrett goal Limerick will kick themselves over. There was no danger until they made danger for themselves.

Shane O’Brien and Cathal O’Neill pointed in injury-time for a two-point Limerick interval lead. They’d have the breeze behind them in the second period. Cork had climbed into the driver seat by the time Lynch departed. The Limerick response, while typically defiant, has a sizable ‘what if’ hanging over it for the fact that it was carried out by a man less.

They go to Ennis next Sunday minus Lynch and minus Gillane. Their summer is far from alive.

Scorers for Cork: A Connolly (1-8, 0-7 frees); S Barrett (1-2); D Fitzgibbon (0-5, 0-2 frees); W Buckley, B Hayes (0-2 each); E Downey, T O’Mahony (free), T O’Connelly (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: A O’Connor (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); D Byrnes (1-2, 1-0 free); C O’Neill (0-4); P Casey, S O’Brien (0-3 each); G Hegarty, A English (0-2 each).

CORK: P Collins; S O’Donoghue, C Joyce, N O’Leary; M Coleman, R Downey, E Downey; T O’Mahony, T O’Connell; D Fitzgibbon, S Barrett, B Walsh; A Connolly, W Buckley, B Hayes.

SUBS: D Cahalane for Joyce (5 mins, inj); A Walsh for Connolly (46-53, temporary); D Healy for Buckley (51); R O’Flynn for B Walsh (72); G Millerick for R Downey (76).

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Finn, B Nash, M Casey; D Byrnes, W O’Donoghue, K Hayes; A English, C Lynch; G Hegarty, A O’Connor, C O’Neill; D Reidy, S O’Brien, P Casey.

SUBS: D O’Donovan for Reidy (53); T Morrissey for P Casey (62); C Coughlan for O’Brien (68).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).