Limerick fall short against Cork in Munster minor hurling championship

LIMERICK were defeated by Cork 2-25 to 0-21 in the opening round of the Munster minor hurling championship on Friday evening in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

Despite Limerick's defeat, manager Donal O'Grady will take some positives from his side's performance.

Cork were good value for their victory scoring 2-23 out of their 2-25 from play. Paul Murphy, Gavin Thompson and Shane Waters were among the Limerick players to impress in Friday evening's entertaining game.

Six of last year's squad are part of this year's Limerick minor hurling squad which include David O'Keefe, Danny Sheehan, Paul Murphy, Rory Hanley, Cathal Dennehy and Sean Fitzgerald.

O'Grady has replaced Shane Dowling as the Limerick manager. O'Grady was part of the Limerick senior hurling backroom team between 2020 and 2024. Last year proved a disappointing campaign for Limerick where they tasted four defeats during the Munster MHC.

On two minutes, Paul Murphy linked up with Limerick corner forward Shane Waters to put Limerick into an early lead. However, Cormac Deane, son of former Cork star Joe Deane, levelled matters two minutes later. 

Cork followed that up with further scores through Michael T Brosnan, Craig O'Sullivan and Cormac Deane as the visitors now led 0-4 to 0-1. However, back come Limerick and Paul Murphy reduced the gap to two points on eight minutes.

Ryan Dinneen and Craig O'Sullivan hit back with two quickfire points in quick succession as the Rebels were starting to get their scores easier than Limerick. 

Limerick sharpshooter Shane Waters then replied with a point from a free as the home side were just doing enough to keep in touch. 

In the next ten minutes, the Leesiders started to take control of the contest outscoring their opponents 0-6 to 0-4. Eoghan O'Shea, Ryan Dineen, Michael T Brosnan and Colm Garde all added points from play, while Limerick relied on four points from placed balls courtesy of Shane Waters as they trailed 0-12 to 0-7 on 23 minutes. 

O'Grady's side began to enjoy their most dominant spell of the half when Danny Sheehan, Paul Murphy and Cathal Dennehy landed the next three points in-a-row.

One minute before the break Cormac Deane set up Ruairc Donovan for the opening goal of the evening. Cork corner Eoghan O'Shea followed that up with his third score of the evening as Limerick were 1-13 to 0-10 behind at the interval. 

In the first half the Shannonsiders only managed to score 0-4 from play, while 1-12 of Cork's 1-13 came from play in the opening period. 

Limerick made a bright to the second half when Cathal Dennehy and Waters were both on target. Cork re-established their six-point lead on 36 minutes. 

Shane Waters brought Limerick back into the contest when the Na Piarsaigh clubman made it 1-15 to 0-14. Cormac Deane replied as Cork were now 1-16 to 0-15 in front. Waters and Rory Hanly hit back to give Limerick some confidence as the final quarter approached. 

Cork's Sean Coughlan, Craig O'Sullivan and Tom A Walsh had their side back in the ascendency. Limerick to their credit kept battling away, Paul Murphy and Cathal Dennehy were central to the hosts comeback but that was as close as they could get. Kilian Begley son of former Limerick hurler Brian Begley had a great goal chance but his shot was saved by Cork goalkeeper Tom C Walsh. 

The victors went down the field and Cormac Deane fired the sliotar past Limerick goalkeeper Marcus Murphy. Michael T Brosnan, Deane, Ryan Dineen and Craig O'Sullivan kept the scoreboard ticking in the closing stages of the second half as Cork held on for a ten-point victory. 

Limerick could only manage a free from Alex Kearns late on in the second half as they opened their Munster SHC campaign with a defeat.

Donal O'Grady's side will travel to Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan, on Friday, April 4, 7pm, to face Waterford in their second game in the round robin phase of the Munster championship. 

SCOERSR: Limerick: Shane Waters (0-11, 0-7 frees), Paul Murphy, Cathal Dennehy 0-3 each, Danny Sheehan, Rory Hanley, Sean Óg Cahill-Hayes 0-1, Alex Kearns (0-1, 0-1 free). Cork: Cormac Deane 1-4, Craig O’Sullivan (0-6, 0-2 frees), Ryan Dineen and Eoghan O’Shea 0-4 each, Ruairc Donovan 1-0, Michael T Brosnan 0-3, Colm Garde, Darragh Heavin, Sean Coughlan, Jack Counihan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Marcus Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); Shane Carroll (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Evan Ryan (South Liberties), Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock);Kyle McCarthy (Glenroe), Gavin Thompson (St Kierans), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken/ Bohermore); Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), David O’ Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh) Captain, Danny Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh), Paul Murphy (Castletown/Ballyagran) Vice-Captain, Rory Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Killian Begley (Mungret/St Pauls). SUBS: Séan Óg Cahill Hayes (Croom) for Hennessy (39 minutes), Gavin O'Brien for Begley (51 minutes),  Sean Fitzgerald (Murroe/Boher) for McCarthy (55 minutes), Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh) for Waters (59 minutes), Ryan Foley (Patrickswell) for O'Keefe (61 minutes)

CORK: Tom C Walsh; Darragh Heavin, Denis Fitzgerald, Cian Lawton; Michael T Brosnan, Bobby Carroll, Colm Garde; Tom A Walsh, Jack Counihan, Ruairc Donovan, Cormac Deane, Ryan Dineen; Craig O'Sullivan, Calum Coffey, Eoghan O'Shea. SUBS: Sean Coughlan for Donovan (38 minutes), Charlie Hanratty for Coffey (51 minutes), Sam Ring for Dineen (58 minutes), Evan Connolly for Carroll (59 minutes), Darragh Winters Tom A Walsh (60 minutes)

REFEREE: Aaron Hogg (Clare).