Limerick extend winning run with emphatic National Hurling League victory over Cork

LIMERICK took a big step towards a place in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final, defeating Cork 3-19 to 0-20 in front of 18,744 people at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.

For the second week in a row, Shane O’Brien and Cathal O’Neill got goals, with an Aidan O’Connor penalty sealing the win for John Kiely’s men.

The win marked a fourth success in a row for Limerick in this league campaign - and ended Cork’s unbeaten run in the process.

Standing in the Treaty’s way of a place in the decider is a Galway side who come to the TUS Gaelic Grounds on March 21. The Tribesmen had an emphatic win of their own on Saturday night against Kilkenny.

Limerick got off to a dream start when Shane O’Brien struck a goal in the second minute. Kyle Hayes supplied the long ball in which the Kilmallock man won and blasted home for his second goal in two games.

However, this was a rare bright spot as Cork dominated the early exchanges. Two points in 30 seconds from Barry Walsh had the visitors 0-6 to 1-0 ahead after eight minutes. Limerick at this stage having already struck four wides.

An Aidan O’Connor free in the 11th minute quickly followed by a fine Cathal O’Neill strike from play eased Limerick into the game.

Limerick’s accuracy improved as they struck six points before the next wide - which came from a long-range Diarmaid Byrnes free.

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Nickie Quaid had to be on his toes to stop Cork from raising a green flag after 20 minutes. Shane Kingston made a charging run before Quaid came off his line to block the Douglas attacker.

Temperatures began to rise on the field as the intensity went up a notch with the sides level 1-7 to 0-9 after 30 minutes, O’Connor’s fourth free edging Limerick in front.

Three Tim O’Mahony frees and a neat score from a tight angle courtesy of Alan Walsh had the sides at parity before O’Connor added a free with the last puck of the first to give Limerick the interval advantage.

Aaron Gillane had the first real opening of the second half. A long Byrnes free found Gillane one-on-one with his man - however, the Patrickswell clubman lost his hurley and his kicked shot was easily dealt with. The hosts also had a shot drop short and two wides in the frist five minutes of the second period.

Cian Lynch eventually broke Limerick’s second half duck before Brian Hayes responded seconds later.

O’Connor added one from play and one from a free but it could have been more for Limerick. Kyle Hayes was running through on goal and was pulled down by Ciaran Joyce just at the 21 meter line. However, referee Sean Stack opted for a yellow card - rather than the black many in the stands were expecting.

With Cork beginning to grab a foothold in the game, Limerick got a decisive second goal.

Lynch won the dirty ball and played a handpass to O’Neill who made no mistake with the finish.

Two minutes later, Limerick had goal number three. Darragh Langan played a long ball to the edge of the square where Aaron Gillane was fouled by Shane O’Donoghue. Up stepped O’Connor who slotted home.

SCORERS:

Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 1-11 (1-0 pen, 7f); Cathal O’Neill 1-2; Shane O’Brien 1-0; Adam English 0-2; Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch, Hugh Flanagan, Tom Morrissey 0-1 each.

Cork: Tim O’Mahony 0-7 (7f, 1 ‘65); Brian Hayes, Tommy O’Connell 0-3 each; Barry Walsh, Shane Barrett 0-2 each; Shane Kingston, Alan Walsh, Eoin Downey 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy.

Subs: Conor Coughlan for Kyle Hayes (10-11 mins, blood); Tom Morrissey for Gearoid Hegarty (50 mins); Hugh Flanagan for David Reidy (57 mins); Darragh Langan for Sean Finn (59 mins); Donncha O’Dalaigh for Shane O’Brien (65 mins); Oisin O’Farrell for Aaron Gillane (65 mins)

CORK: Patrick Collins; Eoin Roche, Daire O’Leary, Ger Millerick; Damian Cahalane, Eoin Downey, Micheal Mullins; Ciaran Joyce, Tommy O’Connell; Barry Walsh, Tim O’Mahony, Shane Kingston; Alan Walsh, Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett.

Subs: Seamus Harnedy for Shane Kingston (39 mins); Niall O’Leary for Eoin Roche (46 mins); Darragh Fitzgibbon for Micheal Mullins (53 mins); Sean O’Donoghue for Daire O’Leary (59 mins); Declan Dalton for Alan Walsh (65 mins).

REFEREE: Sean Stack (Dublin).