Munster hurling final player ratings: Quaid stars for Limerick, O'Donoghue dominant for Cork until yellow
MAN OF THE MATCH: Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid was the man of the match against Cork. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Because he has the sport’s best puckout means his shot-stopping can be overlooked but not here with two crucial full-length diving saves, first from Diarmuid Healy that was destined for the top corner, then from Mark Coleman that was heading into the bottom one.
Bar when he was rounded by William Buckley for a 17th-minute point, closed the gate on whoever was in his orbit, keeping his most common direct marker Alan Connolly scoreless from play.
His typically solid self; keeping Brian Hayes to just the one score from play – albeit a goal – is beyond respectable.
Snuck up for a trademark point on 23 minutes and helped keep the Cork full-forward line scoreless from play for the last half hour.
Personified Limerick’s day. Wasn’t all good – one of several poor clearances led to Cork’s second goal and fluffed an injury-time sideline cut – but came up with game-winning plays, like converting a couple of long-range frees in the clutch.
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Helped Limerick settle by providing the assist for their opening point and crucially finished even stronger, coming out with the ball more than once in those frantic final minutes.
Not his finest hour – that first hour that is, giving away a penalty and dropping a couple of shots short midway through the second half. But had a storming last 10 minutes, driving forward to crucially set up a Hegarty point that drew Limerick level.
Had a couple of nice assists early on before fading out only to finish strong again in the clutch with some characteristic pop passes.
Didn’t have all his own way but ultimately had the most influence of all four starting midfielders by how often he won and emerged with ball.
Switching him inside in the closing minutes was the gamechanger. Up to then he had been peripheral, bar his 15th-minute goal, but upon that switch caused mayhem, even if a late miss and late free could have been costly.
Quiet game, bar a lovely point just before half-time when he killed the ball marvellously on his stick. Taking him off to move Hegarty inside ultimately swung the game.
Another of their post-Covid newcomers to have a subdued game bar for one brilliant individual point towards the end of the first half. Came off injured minutes later.
The first time he has gone scoreless in a championship game against Cork. While he set up a goal chance for Cathal O’Neill early on, just wasn’t his day, shooting several wides and even been blocked down. Fought hard to win a couple of frees before been taken off just 10 minutes into the second half.
Missed two of his first three deadballs and tellingly was taken off them again in injury-time as Diarmuid Byrnes was deemed more dependable in the clutch. Still finished with 0-8 to his name though.
Had a lively start, scoring Limerick’s opening point and coming up with a couple of early assists, and an even stronger finish, scoring a couple of key points and diving full-lengh to foil a Collins short puckout.
Scored two tidy points within 10 minutes of been thrown into the action and also got onto some crucial breaks during Limerick’s power play in the last 10 minutes.
Turned the game upon coming on for Gillane in the 49th minute, with his go-forward dynamism and industry. Also got a block in to stop a certain Cork point.
Part of that power surge in the closing minutes, though had Cork been the ones to edge this there’d be serious questions about him taking on and missing a shot out by the touchline.
Couldn’t do much about the goal but made a series of terrific saves otherwise, denying Hegarty, Shane O’Brien, Casey and Cathal O’Neill. Very mixed return from deliveries, with a few long restarts skidding out for sidelines but Cork weren’t aerially strong enough either.
Strong first half on his old nemesis Gillane but coughed up a needless yellow card, for a foul on Peter Casey. That led to his replacement early in the second half when he had been utterly dominant. A blow to Cork.
Unusual match-up on the diminutive skillful Casey but kept him in check in the first half. Ended up on Gillane and then Hegarty. Another very honest Munster final showing.
Man-marked Shane O’Brien very tightly and limited him to a point before he was replaced. Peter Casey did finish the game strongly but huge space had opened up by then.
Tasked with tracking Gearóid Hegarty in the first half, who thieved a goal when a Brynes free dropped short. Solid showing but wasn’t able to drive up as much as he likes.
Arrowed a glorious first-half point after snaring a puck-out. Had the measure of Aidan O’Connor from play but when Limerick brought Adam English to midfield and moved Cian Lynch to 11, they got far more joy.
Stitched the penalty and kept Cathal O’Neill fairly quiet until he came off injured. Tom Morrissey did pick off two scores but Coleman was denied a goal by a flying Nickie Quaid.
Holding role at midfield, same as Darragh O’Donovan for Limerick. Excellent assist for Brian Hayes’ goal.
Tagging Cian Lynch once again until he moved to the forwards. Superb long-range placed balls with the wind and was fouled for two converted frees.
Grabbed two first-half points as well as earning a converted free. Won a vital late free but Diarmaid Byrnes had a big impact too.
Profited from Will O’Donoghue sitting deep and picked up a lot of possession towards midfield in the first. Didn’t score but fouled for two frees and had a couple of assists. Kept battling but couldn’t wriggle free in the second half.
Didn’t see a lot of ball in the first half but was clearly told to stick tight with Kyle Hayes. Fouled for a free but wasn’t an attacking threat overall. Did the job he was asked to do though.
Dangerous, despite a lack of ball, nabbing two points. Had a sniff of goal in the second half but just couldn’t escape the clutches of the Limerick full-back line.
Very quiet overall and only got the sliotar in his paw once in the danger zone. Reliable on the frees.
Fouled for the first-half penalty but got little quality possession. Limerick were very tuned in to his playmaking as much as his scoring. Took his goal with a very clever finish.
On for O’Donoghue due to the yellow card. Limerick’s rotation of their forwards in the last quarter was match-winning.
On too late to rate.
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