Aaron Gillane inspires Limerick to Allianz Hurling League title with win over Cork

LIMERICK secured a 15th-ever Allianz Hurling League Division 1 title, defeating Cork 1-27 to 1-21 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

An Aaron Gillane goal in the 18th minute was the crucial score for Limerick who led from pillar to post. The Patrickswell man made his personal tally 1-7 when he got the knocked over the insurance score, giving his side a six-point win over their rivals.

The win gives John Kiely’s side great momentum ahead of the side’s rematch in three weeks time in the Munster Championship.

After losing to Waterford in their league opener, the win represented a sixth successive victory for Limerick in the campaign.

The winners got off to a fast start, scoring six points in the opening six minutes. A pair from Adam English inside 90 seconds ensured an ideal start for the home side.

When Diarmaid Byrnes caught a puckout, slipped past his man and drove over a score from inside his own half, Limerick led by half a dozen.

However, a bizarre goal got Cork back into the game.

Byrnes went to strike a ball across the face of his goal to Nickie Quaid who left the line. The pass was intercepted by Brian Hayes who batted the ball into the empty net.

The Patrickswell man however, had a big part when Limerick rattled the net themselves.

A ground strike found Aaron Gillane who took on Sean O’Donoghue before blasting the ball past Patrick Collins.

Earlier scores from Cathal O’Neill, Aidan O’Connor and Shane O’Brien meant the goal put Limerick into a 1-11 to 1-2 lead.

However, late in the half, Limerick’s performance level slipped and Cork took advantage. The ‘Rebels’ scored five points in a row, four of them Alan Connolly frees as referee Shane Hynes punished all indiscretions.

Gearoid Hegarty stopped the run but Cork got the last two scores of the opening period to reduce the deficit to 1-13 to 1-10 at the break.

Limerick thought they had a second goal late in the half, Cian Lynch’s initial effort well saved by Collins. A ruck developed in the square and the ball was bundled over the line. However, referee Hynes spotted a foul and awarded a free out.

The free-taking of O’Connor got the scoreboard ticking for Limerick in the second half. Gillane was getting the better of Ger Millerick winning a free that was scored before adding one from play.

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A super score from Cathal O’Neill pushed the lead out to six with 20 minutes to play.

Points from Brian Hayes and William Buckely kept the visitors in touch. Buckley’s third of the game meant there was only three in it, 1-20 to 1-17 at the hour mark.

Late scores from Gillane and David Reidy confirmed the six-point win.

SCORERS:

Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-7 (3f); Aidan O’Connor 0-8 (7f, 1 ‘65); Adam English, Diarmaid Byrnes (1f, 1 ‘65) 0-3 each; Cathal O’Neill, Gearoid Hegarty 0-2 each; Shane O’Brien, David Reidy 0-1 each.

Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (7f); Brian Hayes 1-3; William Buckley 0-3; Tim O’Mahoney (1f), Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-2 each; Seamus Harnedy, Tommy O’Connell, Hugh O’Connor, Mark Coleman 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: Peter Casey for Cathal O’Neill (temporary 31-35 mins); Peter Casey for Shane O’Brien (54 mins); Darragh O’Donovan for Aidan O’Connor (57 mins); Ethan Hurley for Cian Lynch (67 mins); Colin Coughlan for Diarmaid Byrnes (70 mins)

CORK: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Seán O’Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Micheál Mullins; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Séamus Harnedy, Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon; William Buckley, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Ger Millerick for Sean O’Donoghue (35 mins); Mark Coleman for Micheal Mullins (47 mins); Hugh O’Connor for Seamus Harnedy (50 mins); Robbie O’Flynn for Tommy O’Connell (62 mins); Declan Dalton for William Buckley (69 mins); Damian Cahalane for Robert Downey (70 mins).

REFEREE: Shane Hynes (Galway).