How the drama unfolded as Limerick claimed the Munster title

It was a day of high drama in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday as the Limerick hurlers claimed their first Munster title in 17 years. Here’s our blow-by blow-account of the action.

1 min - Limerick take only 18 seconds to take the lead. Paudie O’Brien point from just inside half way after taking a pass from Seamus Hickey

1 min - Cork reply immediately as Daniel Kearney levels things up

2 mins - Declan Hannon gets his first point when he bursts on to a loose ball to point from play

3 mins - Limerick go two up after the referee spots an off the ball foul by Stephen McDonnell on Seanie Tobin. Hannon taps over the straight forward free

7 mins - James Ryan wins a Limerick puck out, takes on the Cork defence and fires over from just outside the ‘45

8 mins - Pa Horgan gets Cork’s second point after a pass from Seamus Harnedy

11 mins - Harnedy gets his first score after Cork work the ball the full length of the field

14 mins - Declan Hannon misses a long-range free and Cork come back down the field where Pa Cronin is fouled by Paudie O’Brien and Pa Horgan level things at 0-4 each

16 mins - Pa Horgan puts Cork in front for the first time when he points from play

16 mins - Cork almost get the first goal of the game but Horgan’s effort flashes across the face of the goal and wide

17 mins - Graeme Mulcahy shows a glimpse of his class when he takes on the Cork defence and gets his first point to level things up

19 mins - Another let off for Limerick as Nickey Quaid is blinded by the sun and srops a high ball but Richie McCarthy is on hand to take the ball off the line

19 mins - Luke O’Farrell puts Cork back into the lead when he points from play

22 mins - David Breeen earns a free for Declan Hannon to tie things up again

25 mins - But Cork take the lead again when Pa Horgan points a free after McCarthy fouls Harnedy

26 mins - Cork are on a bit of a roll now. Pa Cronin has acres of space to point after being set up by Tom Kenny

27 mins - David Breen is again fouled for a free. Declan Hannon again is on target to leave one between them

29 mins - Seamus Harnedy gets on the end of a long ball to restore Cork’s two-point advantage

29 mins - Paul Browne is set up by Donal O’Grady and after missing a earlier chance he makes amends to cut the deficit once more

30 mins - Cork get another half goal chance but Richie McCarthy blocks bravely and the danger is cleared

31 mins - But Cork are on target again moments later when Cronin gets his second from play

33 mins- After wides from Paul Browne and James Ryan, Sean Tobin stops the rot with his first from play

34 mins - And a minute later, Donal O’Grady powers forward, is fouled and Declan Hannon levels things up again

35 mins - The game’s biggest talking point arrives when Cork’s full-forward and free-taker Pa Horgan is given a straight red card for a wild pull on Paudie O’Brien. It seems accidentaland the decision seems harsh but Limerick head for the dressing rooms tied at 0-10 each but with numerical advantage for the second half

Second half

36 mins - Graeme Mulcahy wins a Limerick puckout, heads straight for goal, takes a handy point to put Limerick into a lead they’ll hold for the remainder of the game

38 mins - Seanie Tobin is fouled by Lorcan McLoughlin and Declan Hannon lands the free for his sixth point of the game

41 mins - Jamie Coughlan, introduced as a half-time sub, points a free from near the sideline to narrow the gap as Cork introduce Cathal Naughton for Conor Lehan

42 mins - James Ryan’s influence continues to grow and he takes a pass from Seanie Tobin up for his second point

43 mins - Coughlan is fouled by Tom Condon, and he points the free himself fro a position similar to the first. Limerick are still one up

44 mins - Tobin gets another point, this time after a pass from Paul Browne

45 mins - After putting in a very honest effort, David Breen is called ashore and replaced by his club-mate Shane Dowling

48 mins - Stephen Walsh fouls Harnedy but Coughlan misses the free and within a minute Shane Dowling sends a long ball into Hannon on the edge of the square who makes a fine catch before pointing to put Limerick three clear. It’s a crucial moment in the game

51 mins - Dowling certainly makes his presence felt as he points off his left to put Limerick four in front. Conor Allis joins the action in place of Graeme Mulcahy

53 mins - James Ryan adds his third point, a massive effort from out the sideline

54 mins - Seamus Harnedy replies for Cork and the ginat Michael Cussen comes in at full-forward in place of Luke O’Farrell. For Limerick, Cathal King comes in for the injured Paudie O’Brien

58 mins - Cathal Naughtan points on the run for Cork to reduce the gap to three once again and a minute later Pa Cronin adds one from long range. Game is still alive

59 mins - Seamus Hickey has been busy all afternoon and he replies immediately

61 mins - Anthony Nash puts a Cork puckout out over the sideline and Declan Hannon puts over a delightful sideline cut from in front of the stand

64 mins - Shane Dowling gets another point, this time after getting on the end of a clearance from Donal O’Grady

65 mins - Kevein Downes is just seconds on the field but Cork gift him possession and he makes them count with his first score. Limerick are now six up

68 mins - Downes puts his hand up for a starting spot the next day with a delightful point from a tight angle

69 mins - Shane Dowling gets his third point since coming on and Niall Moran also marks his introduction with a fine effort. Limerick are 0-24 to 0-15 up and the crowd are ready to invade the pitch

72 mins - Dowling misses a late free but it’s immaterial as the long-suffering Limerick supporters invade the Gaelic Grounds pitch and erupt in joy when Donal O’Grady lifts the Munster trophy