Heartbreak for Limerick U20 hurlers after two-point defeat to Cork

HEARTBREAK for Limerick as they have lost out to Cork by two-points, 1-25 to 2-20, in the O'Neills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship this evening in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 

This is the Treaty sides third loss in the championship with one more group game in the Championship against Waterford in two weeks time on Friday, May 10 in the Mick Neville Park at 7pm. 

Goals from Fintan Fitzgerald and Tadhg Boddy were not enough as the Cork side pushed on with quick fire shots from range. 

Cork were the first side to open the scoring with a Diarmuid Healy point from play after only 50 seconds of play. Limerick were able to answer back though after two minutes with a Shane O'Brien point. 

The Rebels looked to be on top of the game early on with two fast points from Jack Leahy and William Buckley but these scores set in motion the Limerick attack who rattled off four points in the opening 10 minutes. 

Askeaton/Kilcornan Desmond corner forward Oisín O'Farrell was vital for his side in the opening half scoring five frees keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Limerick came into their own in the middle portion of the half with solid defence dispossessing the Cork forward on multiple occasions to set up the attack from deep in their own half leaving it 0-9 to 0-7 in their favour after 20 minutes. 

The Rebels kicked on after a shot of Limerick points in the remaining minutes of the first with Jack Leahy and Diarmuid Healy making no mistake with their shots from play. Six wides for Limerick also stunted their attack as their forwards were trying their best to make attacks count. 

Limerick got the final score of the opening 30 minutes but after Cork's quick scores it remained the home side in the lead 0-14 to 0-12 at the break. 

Fintan Fitzgerald was a man on a mission as he slotted over two fast points from play to put Limerick level four minutes into the second-half. This score was complimented by Shane O'Brien's effort putting the Treaty side one point in front. 

Cork struggled to get a score in the opening minutes registering four wides as Jack Leahy once again got a point from a lont-range free to leave the game level. 

Fitzgerald extended his tally after a fantastic pass from Con Hayes found the Mungret St Pauls man who made no mistake with the goal shot leaving them 1-15 to 0-16 ahead. 

It didn't take long for Cork to come back though as William Buckley and Jack Leahy rattled off three points in quick succession. The game settled for a few minutes before a shocking exit pass in the Limerick defence lead Cork sub Barry Walsh straight on goal slotting their first goal of the game and 1-22 in the lead.

Limerick did their best to get back into the game but the home side found a different gear and pushed on once again after their goal with a further four points.

Treaty sub Tadhg Boddy stepped up to take a shot for Limerick, ending in the back of the net, but the damage was done and time had run out for Limerick as Cork secured their third win in the U20 Championship on a scoreline of 1-25 to 2-20.

SCORERS LIMERICK: Oisín O'Farrell 0-9 (0-6 frees, 0-1 65), Fintan Fitzgerald 1-2, Cian Scully 0-3 (0-2 frees), Shane O'Brien 0-3, Tadgh Boddy 1-0, Hugh Flannagan, Robert O'Farrell, Vince Harrington 0-1 each. CORK: Jack Leahy 0-14 (0-10 frees), Diarmuid Healy 0-4, Barry Walsh 1-0, William Buckley 0-2, Eoin O'Leary, James Dwyer, Ben Walsh, Tadhg O'Connell, Cillian Tobin 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Pierce Connery (Kilmallock), Mikey Fitzgibbon (Cappamore), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), David Fitzgerald (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh), Sean Casey (Bruff), Cian Scully (C) (Dromin/Athlacca), Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen), Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Con Hayes (Newcastle West), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret/St Pauls), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Oisín O'Farrell (Askeaton/Kilcornan Desmond)

SUBS: William Dore (Dromin/Athlacca) for M Fitzgibbon (Half-Time), Dara Ferland (Monaleen) for R O'Farrell (45 mintes), Jack Fitzgibbon (Dromin/Athlacca) for M Fitzgerald (52 minutes), Tadgh Boddy (Bruff) for C Hayes (54 minutes), Barry Adams (Ballybrown) for J Fitzgerald (55 minutes).    

CORK: Paudie O'Sullivan, Denis Cashman, Kevin Lyons, Darragh O'Sullivan (C), James Dwyer, Óran O'Regan, Cillian Tobin, Mikey Finn, Ben Walsh, Diarmuid Healy, Tadhg O'Connell, William Buckley, David Cremin, Eoin O'Leary, Jack Leahy

SUBS: Barry Walsh for E O'Leary (43 minutes), Adam O'Sullivan for M Finn (47 minutes), Peter O'Shea for B Walsh (50 minutes), Timmy Wilk for C Tobin (53 minutes), Ross O'Sullivan for T O'Connell (57 minutes)

REFEREE: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)