Kingston's late show sinks Limerick in Allianz Hurling League opener

LIMERICK have began their Allianz Hurling League with a defeat after an enthralling clash with Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. 

Shane Kingston's point in the tenth minute of  additional time saw Pat Ryan's men to a 2-17 to 0-22 victory. Limerick had by eight points at the break but two early second half goals saw Cork back into the contest.

Limerick opened the scoring inside the first minute thanks to a David Reidy free and the Dromin-Athlacca man delivered a second soon after to give his side a solid start.

Cork misfired early on with six wides inside the first quarter but got on the board with a Patrick Horgan free to cut Limerick's gap to one after seven minutes.

Another Reidy free and one each from Gearoid Hegarty and Colin Coughlan then had Limerick into a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage. Horgan and Luke Meade responded for Cork to tighten the game once more.

Tom Morrissey and Brian Roche swapped points before Darragh O'Donovan and Hegarty again put Limerick four points in front with 17 minutes played.

Cork reduced that margin in the lead up to half time with two Horgan frees and one from play by full-back Eoin Downey but Limerick responded in style. 

Reidy put three between the teams with a '65 and that was followed by Barry Murphy, Coughlan and Declan Hannon efforts from play. Seamus Flanagan and Adam English then fired over further scores in first-half added time to put Limerick 0-16 to 0-8 in front at the break.

Cork made a stunning start to the second half with 1-1 inside the opening four minutes. A Horgan free accounted for the point and then Robbie O'Flynn fired in a thunderbolt of a goal.

Two further Horgan fees to one from Reidy cut the lead to three points before Declan Dalton pulled first time with a shot to the bottom left corner for Cork's second goal. That levelled things for the first time.

Adam English put Limerick back ahead but efforts from Horgan and Ciaran Joyce put Cork ahead for the first time on 55 minutes. A Horgan '65 then had the Rebels 2-14 to 0-18 in front. 

Limerick levelled with Reidy and Barry points and then went in front through Donnacha Ó Dálaigh in added time. However, Cork fought back to earn a one-point win with Kingston's late effort.

Scorers - Limerick: David Reidy 0-8 (7 frees, 1 '65), Gearoid Hegarty 0-3, Colin Coughlan and Adam English 0-2 each, Tom Morrissey, Darragh O'Donovan, Barry Murphy, Declan Hannon, Seamus Flanagan, Ciaran Barry and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-1 each

Scorers - Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-10 (5 frees, 1 '65), Robbie O'Flynn 1-1, Declan Dalton 1-0, Luke Meade, Brian Roche, Eoin Downey, Ciaran Joyce, Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: David McCarthy (Glenroe); Sean Finn (Bruff), Richie English (Doon), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock); Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Declan Hannon (Adare), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), Barry Murphy (Doon); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Adam English (Doon), Seamus Flanagan (Feoghanagh-Castlemahon), Oisin O'Reilly (Kilmallock).

Subs: Ciaran Barry (Ahane) for Hannon (50 mins, inj), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock) for O'Reilly (50 mins), Graham Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Adam English (55 mins), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for Hegarty (55 mins), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen) for Flanagan (69 mins).

CORK: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s); Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk), Luke Meade (Newcestown); Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Cormac Beausang (Midleton); Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own).

Subs: Niall O'Leary (Castlelyons) for O'Donoghue (30 mins, inj), Shane Kingston (Douglas) for Beausang (40 mins), Shane Barrett (Blarney) for O'Sullivan (43 mins), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's) for Dalton (55 mins), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr's) for O'Flynn (62 mins, inj).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)