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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork find their way through the Munster final madhouse
Let's get crazy. Red blood rising. After a mixed Munster championship lacking in the usual quality, the f inal elected to veer into full-blown bedlam. Rollercoasters look like gentle teacups in comparison. 102 shots, almost half of them missed. A truly astonishing 95 turnovers. 24 different scores combined. Rough around the edges, which only served to magnify the madness. The theme continued into the shootout. Five successful penalties and four futile. Declan Hannon, one of the greatest captains the game has known, surrounded by comforting team-mates while a Rebels tidal wave swept the Cork players away. The stadium announcer forced to repeatedly plead for Shane Barrett to come to the stand and claim Mick Mackey Cup. Eventually, he emerged from the sea to make his speech. At that stage the joyous supporters had split between two podiums. Half flocked to the trophy presentation, the other screaming at the sky in front of the RTÉ studio as Dónal Óg Cusack roared back with a proud fist aloft. You thought Cork were coming. You really haven't seen anything like this. Somehow, 'Freed From Desire' found another level. After going through the sporting wringer, an emotional outpouring was inevitable. The Cork captain signalled it with his touching tribute. 'To our leader and our manager, Pat Ryan,' he declared. 'I don't think Pat realises how much this group actually love him but I am going to tell him here today.' There's something about the sulphurous scent of Clare end flares and the sound of ironic jeers that greeted Patrick Horgan's missed free and the sight, the pure swagger, of Gearoid Hegarty slowing strutting past the open stand having plucked a puckout and rifled it over the bar that just gets the pulse racing. It is a senseless sensation. It makes 43,580 crowd in the Gaelic Grounds and the 50-odd characters at the centre of it do daft things. The Catalina Wine Mixer on a triple shot of chaos. Members of both management teams should know the huffing and puffing that went on at half-time as the raced to referee Thomas Walsh was a bit embarrassing. The referee himself should know about the importance of sufficiently applying the sport's rulebook. Munster GAA should know that a pre-game musical set is unlikely to appeal to the final masses. They do it anyway and it is hard to blame them. In this madhouse on wheels, everyone is just trying to find their way. Scoreboards will malfunction, the cramp-stricken referee will go down and be replaced, there will be noticeable alarm in the stand when they learn at the end of normal time that this decider could go to penalties. Seán O'Donoghue will show what it takes to actually get booked in this lawless realm by taking Aaron Gillane's hurl and firing it over the sideline. In the search for some sort of cohort explanation for what unfolded on this frantic Saturday evening, it is worth remembering this simple reality: There was carnage all over the field. It impacted players in profound ways. One of the all-time great Munster final goals can be denied by a terrific last stand by Eoin Downey. As a move, it was magnificent. Kyle Hayes long to Gillane, Tom Morrissey with a perfect floated handpass to Adam English who has an immense ability to peel into that space behind half-backs and boom. Downey to stand tall with a textbook denial. One minute later, he is turned inside out by Aidan O'Connor for the first green flag of the contest. This game was not just chaotic, it was cruel too. All you can do is keep trying. Keep swinging. Keep driving. A long Patrick Collins restart dropped on top of Brian Hayes. A green mass descended and thrashed, like a swarm of hornets stirred from their nest. In normal circumstances it may have been a foul but these ae not normal circumstances. Patrick Horgan was bottled up too. Shane Barrett realised the chances of carrying through the home outfit's defence were slim, so he went old-school and pulled his way past instead. Consider this. Cork headed back to the dressing room at the end of normal time after a string of disheartening wides. Horgan missed a free and was blocked down by Hayes. Robbie O'Flynn snapped too far right. Ciaran Joyce had an opportunity to clinch the winner but hooked it. Some teams would be haunted by that sort of inaccuracy. The game was there for them. They let it slip. What should stand out above all else is how they responded. Seven shots from play in extra-time. Six points. Shane Kingston with yet another super sub salvo. Conor Lehane with an outrageous flick around Cathal O'Neill to score. Darragh Fitzgibbon with a clutch 65 to ensure there was no separating them. Then he cramped up and missed the first penalty. Of course he did. Expect the unexpected. Don't try and resist the whirlwind. This isn't a hurling match. It's a twisted wonderland. Both sides were spent at the death. Players lay flat on their backs as they watched the penalties unfold. Despite a sold-out stadium around them, nine men made what looked like the loneliest walk in the world. Limerick's devastation in defeat was obvious. What is comfort for them is cause for celebration for everyone else. This was an extraordinary and taxing and dramatic day. There is more to come.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
The joy of six - Limerick's Munster final triumphs
Limerick stand on the brink of another feat never achieved before in Munster hurling – seven senior titles in a row. That would rival the provincial milestone of Brian Cody's great Kilkenny team of 2005-2011, another side who won four consecutive All-Irelands. The Cats go for a third Leinster six-in-a-row against Galway tomorrow. Six had never been achieved in Munster until last year either; today's opponents Cork managed five twice, from 1975-79 and 1982-86. Let us remind you just how John Kiely's men went from Munster rarely men to the brink of a magnificent seven. 2019 Limerick 2-26 Tipperary 2-14 The Treaty had missed out on the provincial decider in 2018 but third in the inaugural round-robin was enough for a place in the knockout stages and they went all the way, pipping Galway in a thrilling final for their first All-Ireland SHC triumph in 43 years. The defence didn't start too well, with defeat to Cork in the Gaelic Grounds, but huge wins over Waterford (20 points) and Clare (18) meant they were all but through ahead of facing Tipp in the final round. Seamus Callanan's goal was the difference as the Premier ran out 1-22 to 0-21 winners to finish with a 100% record (the only time it has been done) in the group and eight points. However, Limerick had rested key men like Declan Hannon, Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch and Gearóid Hegarty, while Tipp lost Patrick 'Bonner' Maher (cruciate ligament) and Cathal Barrett to injuries that were put them out of the final rematch. And the Green Machine showed their true strength back on home turf, recovering from an early Callanan goal to hit one of their own through Peter Casey (1-05) and lead 1-11 to 0-09 at the interval, having played against the wind. Limerick dominated their opponents after the break, replying to John McGrath's goal with one of their own from Kyle Hayes (1-02) as part of an unanswered run of 1-06. Hegarty (0-03) and Tom Morrissey (0-04) were also big contributors from play. Declan Hannon, one of just four survivors from the county's previous victory in 2013 - itself a first in 17 years - lifted the cup, which they added to that year's league trophy to complete the set. Tipp were to have the last laugh however, regaining Liam MacCarthy after Limerick slipped up against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-finals. 2020 Limerick 0-25 Waterford 0-21 Over 500 days passed between that first Munster triumph and the second. For a while, it looked like Covid-19 might put paid to hurling altogether, but instead the format reverted to knockout/back door, behind locked doors. Limerick were again relatively comfortable winners over both Clare (also counting as the league final) and Tipperary before meeting Waterford, provincial finalists in their first year under Tipp native Liam Cahill. The Déise had beaten Cork by four points despite conceding a late goal to Patrick Horgan, and put it up to the champions at an empty Semple Stadium. The sides were level five times in a first half Limerick shaded by 0-14 to 0-11 and the challengers briefly inched ahead before the water break (remember those?) as Stephen Bennett (0-12, 9fs) led the charge. But Hegarty, Graeme Mulcahy and Seamus Flanagan all contributed to the traditional strong finish as Limerick retained the Munster crown for the first time since 1981. They won all 13 games they played that year, including handing Waterford a much heavier beating – 0-30 to 0-19 – in an All-Ireland final played at an eerie Croke Park two weeks before Christmas. 2021 Limerick 2-29 Tipperary 3-21 An extraordinary Limerick comeback in this second half and it's summed up here by this Kyle Hayes effort. Watch now on @rte2 or highlights on #sundaygame from 9.30pm — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 18, 2021 This final was arguably the most interesting, for a number of reasons. Or a number of numbers. 35: the highest number of points Limerick scored in any of the six finals. 30: the highest total they conceded. 10: the half-time deficit they overturned. 2: the number of red cards they escaped, according to Jackie Tyrrell. Tipp started like a train at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, goals from Jake Morris and John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer sending them scorching into a 10-point lead at the break, 2-16 to 0-12. The scores were still level two minutes in the second half when 30th-minute sub Aaron Gillane was fouled by Cathal Barrett but swung his hurl back into the defender after the referee had blown the whistle. Paud O'Dwyer seemed to be looking straight at the incident but somehow deemed it only worthy of a yellow card. It's hard to imagine the epic comeback that followed would have happened with 14 men, and they could have finished without another when Flanagan went in high with the hurl on Ronan Maher, though less obviously and late on. Gillane scored 0-06 (4fs), a total matched by Tom Morrissey (1f). Limerick scored the first three points of the half before Flanagan's goal - from a blocked Gillane shot - really got things going and the holders were already ahead by the second water break. In the 56th minute, Hayes took off on a memorable run for their second, game-settling goal. Tipp lost an All-Ireland quarter-final shootout to Waterford, which proved the last game of Liam Sheedy's second spell in charge. Limerick beat the Déise by eight points in the semi-final before hammering Cork on a record 3-32 to 1-22 scoreline in the decider. 2022 Limerick 1-29 Clare 0-29 The first and probably the best final of the trilogy was a relentless slugfest in the rain in Thurles. Clare were, and still are, chasing their first Munster since 1998 and were prepared to fight fire with fire. Tony Kelly hit seven first-half points but a Hegarty goal had it level at half-time – 1-11 to 0-14. Nobody led by more than two points over the initial 73 and a half minutes but the Banner needed a sublime sideline cut from Kelly (0-13, six from play) to force extra-time. Limerick seemed to have the fresher legs in the additional periods, Flanagan finishing with a superb eight points, as Hannon fittingly became the first captain to lift the Mick Mackey Cup. Clare fought back in their All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford but were blown away in the semi-final by Kilkenny. The Cats gave Limerick, who had edged a war of attrition with Galway, their closest All-Ireland final of the Kiely era, which they won by just two points 1-31 to 2-26. 2023 Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-22 Aaron Gillane is the start of this Munster final. Huge moment for Limerick as they move in front. ⌨️Updates: 📺Watch: #sundaygame — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 11, 2023 Clare had raised hopes that Limerick were mortal after all when edging their round-robin encounter by a point at the Gaelic Grounds – the Treaty's first championship defeat in almost four years. So they were happy to play the provincial rematch on Limerick's home turf rather than travel to the much further afield neutral venue of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Things looked to be going to plan for the challengers at half-time as a Mark Rodgers goal had them 1-11 to 0-11 ahead. But, as so often, Limerick upped the intensity in the second half and Gillane (1-11, 8fs) took over. Clare surprisingly left Cian Nolan, already on a yellow card, on the danger man and his 44th-minute goal put them back in front. The hosts scored five in a row after Kelly had levelled and though the Banner pushed all the way, they could never draw level. The game finished in high drama, referee Liam Gordon playing on after a premature pitch invasion before controversially denying Clare a last-gasp free that could have forced extra-time. Hannon again lifted the trophy as Limerick became just the second county to win five Munster titles in succession and first since Cork in 1986. Clare gave a better account of themselves in the All-Ireland series, thumping Dublin in the quarters before a narrower semi-final loss to Kilkenny. Limerick were more comfortable winners over Galway this time, despite a difficult start, and produced one of the most sensational half hours of hurling ever seen in the final as they overturned a five-point deficit to thrash Kilkenny by nine and seal four in a row. 2024 Limerick 1-26 Clare 1-20 'Our first-half performance against the breeze was exceptional... we always found a way to get those extra couple of scores' John Kiely reflects on another Munster crown for Limerick 📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer 📱Updates — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 9, 2024 The record-breaking sixth triumph proved the easiest since the first. Limerick had beaten Clare in the group stages but only after the Banner imploded, having been nine points up by the 52nd minute. Surely revenge, and that long-awaited provincial title, were in store. They wouldn't make the same mistake with the venue anyway, we were heading back to Thurles. Different stadium, same outcome. A Peter Duggan goal levelled the game just before half-time, 1-10 to 0-13, but once again Limerick lifted it in the second half, Hegarty's opportunistic 46th-minute goal easing them into a lead Clare never cut to more than four points. Six Munsters in a row for a county that had won just one of the previous 22, taking them to 25 overall. There was a twist in the tale though. Clare finally got the better of Kilkenny in a semi-final and Cork stunned the champions, ending their drive for a first All-Ireland five-in-a-row. The Banner then edged a classic extra-time final by a single point.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Team news: Aidan O'Connor makes first start for Limerick, Damien Cahalane in for Cork
Aidan O'Connor will make his first championship start for Limerick in Saturday's Munster SHC final against Cork. The 23-year-old from Ballybrown comes in at full-forward for Shane O'Neill, who he replaced during the defeat to Clare in the final game of the group stages. The seven-in-a-row chasers make eight changes from that game but O'Connor for O'Brien is the only one from the 16-point trouncing of the Rebels that secured qualification. That means former All-Stars Declan Hannon, Darragh O'Donovan, Seamus Flanagan, Cathal O'Neill, and Peter Casey are all among the subs. Cork manager Pat Ryan's hand has been forced by injuries as his team go in search of a first Munster title in seven years. Niall O'Leary (groin) and skipper Robert Downey (knee) are on the bench after missing the win over Waterford while Declan Dalton and Ger Millerick miss out altogether. Shane Barrett captains the side in Downey's absence as Damien Cahalane comes in for Millerick and Diarmuid Healy starts at half-forward in place of Brian Roche, Darragh Fitzgibbon moving back to midfield. Galway and Kilkenny will name their teams for Sunday's Leinster SHC final at midday. Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Adam English, Will O'Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Aidan O'Connor, David Reidy. Subs: Shane Dowling, Peter Casey, Colin Coughlan, Seamus Flanagan, Declan Hannon, Barry Murphy, Shane O'Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Darragh O'Donovan, Patrick O'Donovan, Cathal O'Neill. Cork: Patrick Collins; Damien Cahalane, Eoin Downey, Seán O'Donoghue; Cormac O'Brien, Ciarán Joyce, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes. Subs: Brion Saunderson, Niall O'Leary, Rob Downey, Tommy O'Connell, Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade, Shane Kingston, Jack O'Connor, Brian Roche, Robbie O'Flynn.
The 42
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Hannon back on bench for Limerick, Tipp and Waterford unveil starting sides
LIMERICK HAVE BROUGHT Declan Hannon, Peter Casey, and Barry Murphy back into their squad for Sunday's Munster championship tie against Cork. The trio have been named on the bench by manager John Kiely, having not featured in the last round win over Waterford. The Limerick side that started that success against the Deise is again named in the starting fifteen here. Throw-in at TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday is 4pm, with live coverage on RTÉ 2. Waterford have made two changes for their game against Tipperary with Gavin Fives coming in at wingback and Michael Kiely selected at full-forward. Patrick Curran and Patrick Fitzgerald are named amongst the subs. Tipperary have drafted in Willie Connors at midfield in the only change from last Saturday's victory over Clare in Ennis. He replaces Alan Tynan, who is not selected in the squad, while U20 star Darragh McCarthy, suspended last weekend, is back amongst the replacements. Throw-in at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday is 2pm, with live coverage on RTÉ 2. John Kiely and his management team has announced their Limerick Senior hurling team and match panel for their round 4 Munster Senior Hurling Championship game: The Limerick Hurling team to take on Cork this Sunday afternoon in TUS Gaelic Grounds at 4pm is Announced — Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) May 16, 2025 🚨TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT🚨@MunsterGAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 4 🗓️Sunday 18th May @ 2PM 🏟️FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles 🥎Waterford v Tipperary 🎟️ Best of luck to the team and management. — Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) May 16, 2025 Limerick 1. Nickie Quaid (Effin) Advertisement 2. Sean Finn (Bruff), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 4. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh) 5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), 7. Barry Nash (South Liberties) 8. Adam English (Doon), 9. William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh) 10. Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick's), 11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell – captain), 12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane) 13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 14. Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), 15. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) Subs 16. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) 17. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh) 18. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) 19. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) 20. Declan Hannon (Adare) 21. Barry Murphy (Doon) 22. Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown) 23. Fergal O'Connor (Effin) 24. Darragh O'Donovan (Doon) 25. Paddy O'Donovan (Effin) 26. Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister) ****** Tipperary 1. Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris) 2. Robert Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore), 3. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), 4. Michael Breen (Ballina), 5. Sam O'Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), 6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields – captain), 7. Bryan O'Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill) 8. Willie Connors (Kiladangan), 9. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs) 10. Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), 11. Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens), 12. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) 13. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), 14. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), 15. Jason Forde (Silvermines) Subs 16. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan) 17. Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill) 18 Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) 19. Seamus Kennedy (St Mary's Clonmel) 20. Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara) 21. Peter McGarry (St Mary's Clonmel) 22. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) 23. Oisin O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs) 24. Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) 25. Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) 26. Billy Seymour (Kiladangan) ****** Waterford 1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore) 2. Ian Kenny (Ballygunner), 3. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty), 4. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore) 5. Mark Fitzgerald (Passage), 6. Tadhg De Burca (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg), 7. Gavin Fives (Affane-Cappoquin-Tourin) 8. Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner), 9. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan) 10. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), 13. Kevin Mahony (Ballygunner), 12. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater) 13. Jack Prendergast (Lismore), 14. Michael Kiely (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty), 15. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner – captain) Subs 16. Shaun O'Brien (De La Salle) 17. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) 18. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart) 19. Tom Barron (Fourmilewater) 20. Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner) 21. Conor Sheahan (Ballygunner) 22. Sean Walsh (Fourmilewater) 23. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion) 24. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart) 25. Padraig Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty) 26. Reuben Halloran (De La Salle) ****
