Holders Limerick storm into another Munster minor hurling final

HOLDERS Limerick powered their way into the another Munster minor hurling final after storming to a convincing 2-19 to 0-13 victory over Cork in their semi-final clash played at Semple Stadium, Thutles, this Saturday

Two goals inside 60 seconds in the opening half from Doon's Adam English proved significant as Limerick earned a provincial final meeting with Tipperary on Sunday, December 20, 1pm, at a neutral venue to be confirmed.

This will be Limerick's seventh Munster final hurling final appearance in eight years. Limerick will be aiming to win the provincial title for the fourth time in that time frame.

Limerick enjoyed a five-point half-time lead and that advantage was never threatened in the second half as the holders tightened their grip on the contest.

Limerick were full value for this deserved 12-point success. The winners may have waited a long time to finally play in the provincial championship this year due to the Covid-19, but it was worth waiting for from their point of view. 

The Shannonsiders' hurled with great assurance and resolve throughout. Limerick's players displayed a terrific workrate. Their defence was watertight, limiting a fancied Cork side to just three points in the entire second half.

Diarmuid Mullins' charges also held the upperhand at midfield through the hour, ensuring a plentiful supply of good quality ball for the forwards.

Limerick's attack fired impressively as the winners' boasted a fine spread of scores, with no fewer than seven different players on target. Five of Limerick's six starting forwards managed to score from play, while the sixth, Dyclan Lynch, of Na Piarsaigh, was unfortunate to pick up a first quarter injury which saw him replaced.

Lynch's replacement Josh Keating, of Bruff, clipped over a smashing individual point within a minute of coming onto the pitch.

Not to be outdone, Limerick netminder Tomás Lynch, of Doon, also played a significant role in this win, pulling off a number of excellent saves, including a fantastic quick-fire double of stops in the 20th minute of the opening half when the sides were level. 

Limerick had led by five points 2-9 to 0-10 at the end of an entertaining opening half played in excellent conditions.

The sides were level five times during the opening period. Limerick had edged one point to the good, 0-6 to 0-5, at the end of the opening quarter.

The Shannonsiders had six different scores in a lively opening quarter, while four of Cork's five points came from Ben Cunningham frees. The St Finbarr's clubman is a son of former Cork goalkeeping great Ger.

Luke O'Connor notched Limerick's opening point in the second minute, after been set up Adam English's astute pass. Further white flags were raised by the Shannonsiders in the opening quarter by the influential English, Patrick O'Donovan, a smashing individual effort from Kilmallock's Shane O'Brien in the eighth minute, Josh Keating, less than 60 seconds after he had been introduced as a substitute, and finally from a Liam Lynch free.

However, a run of four points without reply from the Donal Og Cusack managed Cork outfit had the Leesiders two points, 0-9 to 0-7, to the good by the 23rd minute.

Limerick needed to respond and they did so in some style. Diarmuid Mullins' side outscored their opponents 2-2 to 0-1 over the remainder of the half.

English's two goals were superbly taken after Luke O'Connor had initially brought Limerick to within a point of their opponents with a well-taken point from O'Donovan's pass.

English's two goals which arrived in the 26th and 27th minutes were well finished, the second after which he was set up by Liam Lynch.

Those goals helped Limerick into a more than useful 2-9 to 0-10 half-time lead.

Limerick tightened their grip on the contest in the third quarter, despite Cork managing the opening point after the restart through substitute Jack Leahy.

Limerick reeled off six points without reply in that third quarter, including four pointed frees from Mungret St Paul's Liam Lynch and excellent points from play courtesy of Adam English and a splendid effort from Patrick O'Donovan, with the referee allowing advantage for an earlier foul on the Effin marksman.

The game was in safe-keeping by this stage and the 2019 Munster champions eased clear in the closing quarter.

SCORERS: Limerick: Adam English 2-3, Liam Lynch 0-8 (0-7 frees), Patrick O'Donovan 0-3, Luke O'Connor 0-2, John Kirby, Shane O'Brien, Josh Keating 0-1 each. Cork: Ben Cunningham 0-8 (all frees), Ben O'Connor, Michael Mullins, Brian Keating, Eoin O'Leary, Jack Leahy 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Tomás Lynch (Doon); Joseph Fitzgerald (Monaleen, Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh), Ronan Lyons (Monaleen); Billy Molyneaux (Mungret St Pauls), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Barry Duff (Mungret St-Paul's)); John Kirby (Patrickswell), Sean Whelan (Cappamore); Adam English (Doon), Liam Lynch (Mungret St Pauls), Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock); Luke O’Connor (Ballybrown), Patrick O’Donovan (Effin), Dylan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh). Substitutes: Josh Keating (Bruff) for Dylan Lynch (injured, 12 mins), Sean O'Neill (Blackrock) for Molyneaux (48 mins), Liam Dennehy (Glenroe) for O'Connor (52 mins), Ned Quinn (Ballybrown) for Fitzgerald (57 mins), Eoin Harmon (Patrickswell) for English (58 mins).

CORK: Brion Saunderson (Midleton); Shane Kingston (Ballinora), Ciarmhac Smyth (Midleton), Kevin Lyons (Ballygarvan); Eoin Downey (captain, Glen Rovers), Ben O’Connor (St Finbarrs), Michael Mullins (Whitechurch); Brian Keating (Ballincollig), James Dwyer (Ballincollig); Alex Quirke (Midleton), Colin Walsh (Kanturk), Tadhg O’Connell (Ballincollig); Ben Cunningham (St Finbarrs), Mark Howell (Douglas), Eoin O’Leary (Glen Rovers). Substitutes: Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold) for Quirke, Jack Leahy (Dungourney) for O'Connell (both half-time), William Buckley (St Finbarr's) for O'Leary (36 mins), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk) for Dwyer (45 mins).

REFEREE: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)