Limerick come up short against Cork in Munster U20 Hurling Championship

THE LIMERICK U20 hurlers were narrowly defeated by Cork 1-22 to 1-20 in round four of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship on Wednesday evening at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

A win next week against Clare will secure Limerick's place into the knockout stages of the Munster Championship. Tipperary have advanced into the Munster final. Meanwhile, Limerick, Clare and Cork will battle it out for a place in the provincial semi-final. 

Limerick delivered a spirited second-half display, but Cork's late surge sealed their first Munster Championship victory. 

Mark O'Brien, Fintan Fitzgerald and Robert O'Farrell impressed scoring 0-11 between them, while Timmy Wilk and Barry Walsh proved to be a handful all evening hitting 1-14 for the victors. 

Limerick senior hurling panelists Hugh Flanagan, Darragh Langan and Sean Casey have been balancing their commitments between the senior and u20 hurling teams this year. 

Evan Loftus made two changes from the Limerick side that drew with Waterford in round two. Dara Ferland and Mark O'Brien were introduced onto the Limerick starting XV. Mungret St Paul's clubman Mark O'Brien earned his first start of the championship having scored 2-3 off the bench in Limerick's opening two games in the Munster Championship. 

Limerick made a blistering to this encounter after 20 seconds. Captain Fintan Fitzgerald pulled on the sliotar inside the small square and his shot was blocked, full forward Donal Coughlan stayed alert to finish the rebound into the back of the net. 

Cork replied with two placed balls from Barry Walsh to keep them within touching distance. The home side raced into a four point lead when Dara Ferland and Mark O'Brien added efforts from play. Cork sharpshooter Barry Walsh hit back with two points in-a-row to make it 1-3 to 0-4 after 12 minutes. 

In the next seven minutes Limerick struggled to deal with the Cork attack. The Rebels outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-2 in that period. Peter O'Shea, Barry Walsh and Ross O'Sullivan reduced the gap the minimium. On 17 minutes, wing back Ben Walsh played a clever handpass to Cork senior hurling panelist Timmy Wilk and Wilk drilled his shot low past Limerick goalkeeper Fionn O'Brien.

Midfielders James Finn and Matthew Fitzgerald tried their best to limit the Cork purple patch. 

Barry O'Flynn and Barry Walsh then combined to push Cork 1-9 to 1-5 ahead. Limerick wing forward Robert O'Farrell then got his first score of the evening but O'Farrell's effort was cancelled out by two more Cork points. 

O'Farrell, after moving into the Limerick full-forward line, clipped over a fine point from a tight angle.

Cork's Timmy Wilk and Barry Walsh, standout performers in the first half, extended their sides' lead  before the break, but Jack Cosgrove hit back for Limerick to leave the score 1-13 to 1-8 in favour of Cork at the interval.

Cork held their lead early in the second half, but Limerick battled hard to stay in contention, with Fintan Fitzgerald and Mark O'Brien leading the charge.

A crucial save by Limerick goalkeeper Fionn O'Brien denied Barry O'Flynn on 43 minutes.

Limerick then enjoyed their strongest spell, outscoring Cork 0-7 to 0-3 over the next 12 minutes, with scores from Sean Duff, Mark O'Brien, Fintan Fitzgerald, Hugh Flanagan, and Robert O'Farrell

On 55 minutes, Mungret St Paul's clubman Mark O'Brien put Limerick 1-18 to 1-17 in front. Cork's Barry Walsh replied to deadlock the sides. Limerick senior star Darragh Langan re-established his side's lead on 59 minutes. 

Cork finished strongly with late points from Tommy Wilk, Barry Walsh, and Adam O'Sullivan to reclaim the lead. Limerick substitute Darren Frewen cut the deficit to one, setting up a tense finish. 

Referee Nicky Barry awarded Cork a crucial free in injury time. Barry Walsh made no mistake with the placed ball, and Cork held firm in the closing stages to secure their first win of the Championship. 

Limerick will now face Clare in the final round of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship next Wednesday April 30 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

SCORERS: 

LIMERICK: Donal Coughlan 1-0,Mark O'Brien (0-5, 0-4 frees), Fintan Fitzgerald and Robert O'Farrell 0-3 each, Dara Ferland 0-2, Matthew Fitzgerald, Darren Frewan, Jack Cosgrove, Sean Duff, Hugh Flanagan Darragh Langan and James Finn 0-1 each

CORK: Timmy Wilk 1-2 (0-1 sideline cut), Barry Walsh (0-12, 0-10, frees), Barry O'Flynn 0-2, Finn O'Brien, Peter O'Shea, Mark O'Brien, Adam O'Sullivan and Ross O'Sullivan 0-1 each, Daniel O'Connell (0-1, 0-1 free)

LIMERICK: Fionn O'Brien; John Murray (Patrickswell), Sean Casey (Bruff), Dan Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Jack Cosgrove (Ahane), Aidan O'Connell (Doon), Darragh Langan (Monaleen); Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh); Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane); Mark O'Brien (Mungret St Paul's), Donal Coughlan (Doon), Fintan Fitzgerald (Captain, Mungret St Paul's). 

SUBS: Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul's) for Coughlan (36 minutes), Diarmuid Hurley for Fitzgerald (40 minutes), Barry Adams (Ballybrown) for Ferland (45 minutes), Darren Frewan (Glenroe) for Finn (51 minutes).

CORK: Daniel O'Connell; Denis Cashman, James O'Brien, Timmy Wilk; Ben Walsh, David O'Leary, Daniel Murnane; Eoin Guinane, Ryan Deasy, John Murphy, Barry O'Flynn, Peter O'Shea; John Wigginton, Ross O'Sullivan, Barry Walsh. 

SUBS: Adam O'Sullivan for O'Brien (36 minutes, injury), Mark O'Brien for Wigginton (40 minutes), Finn O'Brien for Ross O'Sullivan (41 minutes), Johnnie Murphy for O'Shea (46 minutes), Dylan McCarthy for John Murphy (57 minutes)

REFEREE: Nicky Barry (Waterford)