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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Cork crash Limerick's seven-in-a-row dream with epic shootout triumph in Munster SHC final
AT THE end of an enthralling duel that took nearly 100 minutes and nine penalties to determine a winner, Limerick's pursuit of a seventh Munster SHC title on the spin ended just as it began. The defeat to Advertisement 2 Cork captain Robert Downey lifts the Mick Mackey Cup after his side's epic win over Limerick in the Munster final 2 Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid is beaten for a goal by Shane Kingston of Cork in the penalty shoot-out of the Munster final But after making history last year by becoming Munster's first six-in-a-row winners, they were finally overthrown by another loss to the Rebels at the same venue. Just 20 days since they were annihilated by The defending champions, who had never been beaten in their 14 previous major finals under John Kiely, came up short by the slimmest of margins. In the first top-tier hurling final to be settled on penalties – which was witnessed by a crowd of 43,580 – there was never more than a puck of a ball between the teams. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA Limerick initially had the upper hand in the shootout. Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane aced their first two attempts, while Darragh Fitzgibbon was thwarted by Nickie Quaid with Cork's first. But the lead then shifted dramatically. Barry Murphy fired wide for Limerick and Tom Morrissey was denied by Patrick Collins. In response, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston and Alan Connolly all converted for Cork. Declan Hannon was then faced with a must-score effort. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling However, the silverware will spend the next 12 months across the border after the man who captained Limerick to their six Mick Mackey Cups missed the target. For the first time since Cork achieved the feat against Tipperary in Thurles in 2006, Munster champions were crowned on their opponent's turf. 'Like something out of the French Revolution' - RTE GAA pundit Donal Og Cusack slams Dublin star's reckless swipe Pat Ryan's side now have an Limerick must head down the back-door route towards a quarter-final for the first time since 2018. Advertisement The input of referee Thomas Walsh is sure to draw considerable scrutiny when all is said and done. Several calls by Waterford whistler, who had to retire injured in extra-time, left both sides with reasons to feel aggrieved. But when Limerick conduct their post-mortem, the hitting of seven extra-time wides is sure to feature prominently. That being said, Cork registered 16 – twice as many as the opposition – in normal time. Advertisement Mark Coleman and Séamus Harnedy set the tone for Cork as the visitors, playing with the aid of the wind, raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead inside the opening six minutes. But with Tom Morrissey and Cian Lynch being afforded far too much space, Limerick were soon back on level terms. Despite the looming presence of Kyle Hayes, Shane Barrett's influence on proceedings began to grow. And when Harnedy registered his second score of the game, Cork's three-point lead was restored by the end of the first quarter. Advertisement Adam English, having already seen a shot saved by Patrick Collins, was then denied another goal chance by some good Eoin Downey defending. But Downey should have done better just moments later Aidan O'Connor marked his first Championship start with the game's opening goal. The Ballybrown forward collected a ball from Lynch, before turning inside the All-Star full-back and beating Collins with a batted finish. A 22nd-minute point from David Reidy then had Limerick ahead for the first time. However, Cork's response was positive and they landed seven of the next ten scores. Advertisement The key contribution was made by Barrett, who found the net with a superb first-time finish after being teed up by Brian Hayes. When Darragh Fitzgibbon pointed in the final minute of normal time at the end of the first half, Cork led by 1-14 to 1-9. EXTRA TIME Thomas Walsh's refereeing of the opening period was very much of the let-it-flow variety. Much to the frustration of Rebels boss Pat Ryan, he gave Mike Casey the benefit of the doubt when he appeared to pull down Hayes as the men in red looked to stretch their lead before the break. Advertisement Limerick went up the other end to claim the last score of the half, as Cork's advantage was cut to four points at the interval by Reidy's third of the game. Tempers then flared between the management tickets as members of both backroom teams jostled when Ryan approached Walsh to vent his ire. Shane O'Brien, who had a point to prove after being dropped for O'Connor, wasted no time in doing so. Within a few minutes of his introduction, the Kilmallock forward netted to bring Limerick level after availing of a brilliant Aaron Gillane assist. Advertisement Cork only had three Patrick Horgan frees to show for their efforts during a disjointed third quarter. But a gripping point-for-point slugfest unfolded thereafter. Cork got their noses back five on five occasions, only for Limerick to restore parity each time. The Leesiders had a let-off of their own too when Lynch appeared to be barged over by a push in the back from Rob Downey after Will O'Donoghue attempted to play the Limerick skipper through on goal. Moments after Cork bemoaned a close-range Hayes effort being waved wide, the home side edged in front for the first time in the second half through a point from Darragh O'Donovan. Advertisement In the first of four minutes of additional time, a Horgan free evened the contest again. Both teams then squandered match-winning opportunities. Gillane botched a free from a tricky angle and O'Donovan left an attempt short. Cork had their chances too, as Robbie O'Flynn and Ciarán Joyce missed the target. Hayes also made a heroic block to deny Horgan. There was still nothing to separate the sides at the midway point of extra-time after they traded three points apiece. Advertisement By then, a gruelling duel took its toll on ref Walsh, who had to be replaced by line umpire James Owens after going down with cramp. With Kingston, Lehane and Tommy O'Connell contributing 0-6 in extra-time, Cork's bench had a massive impact. Kingston's third point left them one in front but it looked like their chance was blown when Limerick regained the lead through Cathal O'Neill and Gillane, who nailed a free after O'Brien was brought down by Damien Cahalane. One additional minute was signalled, yet the game was in its fourth when a chance of a leveller presented itself to Cork. When Fitzgibbon dropped a free into the square, it was spilled for a '65 by Quaid. Advertisement In a clutch moment, Fitzgibbon was not found wanting as he landed the score that set up the historic penalty shootout – and the most riveting of finales that Cork fans are unlikely to forget in a hurry. CORK 1-30 LIMERICK 2-27 (AET) Cork win 3-2 on penalties CORK: P Collins; D Cahalane 0-1, S O'Donoghue, E Downey 0-1; C O'Brien, C Joyce, M Coleman; T O'Mahony 0-1, D Fitzgibbon 0-4, 1f, 1 '65; D Healy 0-3, S Barrett 1-3, S Harnedy 0-2; A Connolly 0-1, B Hayes 0-1, P Horgan 0-7, 4f. Advertisement Subs: R Downey for O'Brien 54 mins, T O'Connell 0-1 for O'Mahony 59, S Kingston 0-3 for Connolly 65, R O'Flynn for Harnedy 68, C Lehane 0-2 for Horgan 70+3, N O'Leary for O'Donoghue 72, B Roche for Healy 80, Connolly for Coleman 84. LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, M Casey; D Byrnes 0-1f, K Hayes, B Nash; W O'Donoghue, A English 0-3; G Hegarty 0-2, C Lynch, T Morrissey 0-2; A O'Connor 1-1, A Gillane 0-9, 7f, D Reidy 0-3. Subs: S O'Brien 1-2 for O'Connor 42 mins, P Casey 0-1 for Reidy 55, C O'Neill 0-1 for T Morrissey 55, D O'Donovan 0-1 for O'Donoghue 65, B Murphy for M Casey 71, D Hannon 0-1 for Byrnes 71, T Morrissey for Hegarty 79, S Flanagan for Lynch (temp) 90-92, Byrnes for Lynch 94. REFEREE: T Walsh (Waterford) Advertisement
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cork dethrone Limerick in epic Munster final to blow Championship wide open
Limerick 2-27 Cork 1-30 AET - Cork win 3-2 on have ended Limerick's long reign in Munster after a dramatic penalty shootout the teams deadlocked after extra time, penalties were needed to separate the sides - a first in top tier hurling Championship history - and Cork held their nerve to claim a first provincial title since 2018 and move into an All-Ireland semi-final, with Limerick's seven-in-a-row ambitions the shootout Cork blinked first when Darragh Fitzgibbon, who had sent the game to penalties, saw his effort saved by Nickie Quaid as Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane converted for Barry Murphy (wide), Tom Morrissey (saved) and finally Declan Hannon (wide) all subsequently missed for the home side, with Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston and Alan Connolly on target to secure Cork's 55th Munster won the toss, Cork played with the elements in the first half as they looked to get a foothold rather than be cut adrift by half-time as happened on their previous visit three weeks a basic level, it worked as they led by four points at the break but the lead didn't quite feel like it was enough, particularly when Cork's nine first half wides were set aside Limerick's went 0-3 to 0-0 in front by the sixth minute, with two Patrick Horgan points and another from Seamus Harnedy, but within three minutes Limerick were level with Morrissey making a good start as he hit a pair of points either side of one from Aidan O'Connor, who was making his first Championship start. Cork's Diarmiud Healy, also making his full Championship bow, hit two points to settle himself and they were keeping Limerick at arm's reach without threatening to build a formidable lead, and the one they had was wiped out when O'Connor got in for a goal in the 20th rounded Eoin Downey too easily and goalkeeper Patrick Collins could probably have read his batted finish better as it squirmed past the foot of his near put Limerick ahead for the first time with his first of the day but, minutes after Brian Hayes's tame effort had been comfortably saved by Nickie Quaid, the St Finbarr's man's neat handpass allowed Shane Barrett to finish low to Quaid's left as Cork went two in front, eight minutes before the break.A run of three points from Barrett, Horgan and Fitzgibbon pushed them five clear but the half finished amid some controversy, with Cork boss Pat Ryan incensed that Hayes wasn't awarded a free, his sense of injustice all the more acute after David Reidy pointed at the far end to leave it 1-14 to 1-10 at two benches traded barbs and made their way for referee Thomas Walsh as soon as he sounded the half-time whistle, with argy-bargy breaking out between the rival temperature, if not the standard, of the game was raised in the second half as Walsh, having kept his cards in his pocket up to then, flashed five Limerick drew level with sub Shane O'Brien's 47th minute goal, after deft footpass from Gillane, it was set up for them to push on from there but they couldn't find the same spark that had set Cork ablaze three weeks earlier and it was the Rebels that led for the most part for the remainder of normal was never by more than a point, however, and extra time grew increasingly inevitable as the second half progressed, with neither side capable of putting together a sequence of scores to see the other sub, Darragh O'Donovan, put Limerick for the first time in the half in the 69th minute and it looked like it might have been a winner, but Horgan levelled it in the second of the four added then pushed a difficult free wide before Ciaran Joyce missed one at the far end and, from the resultant puckout, O'Donovan dropped an effort well short as Walsh signalled for extra time - 2-19 to was level once again at half-time in extra time as Cork subs Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston made a significant imprint, but victory looked to be Limerick's when Damien Cahalane's foul on O'Brien allowed Gillane to put them in front in the 92nd Cork had time to force a 65, with Fitzgibbon showing nerves of steel to force N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, M Casey; D Byrnes (0-1f), K Hayes, B Nash; A English (0-3), W O'Donoghue; G Hegarty (0-2), C Lynch, T Morrissey (0-2); A Gillane (0-9, 0-7f), A O'Connor (1-1), D Reidy (0-3).Subs: S O'Brien (1-2) for O'Connor (42), P Casey (0-1) for Reidy (55), C O'Neill (0-1) for T Morrissey (55), D O'Donovan (0-1) for O'Donoghue (65), D Hannon (0-1) for Byrnes (70), B Murphy for M Casey (70), T Morrissey for Hegarty (79), Byrnes for Lynch (90+4).CORK: P Collins; D Cahalane (0-1), E Downey (0-1), S O'Donoghue; M Coleman, C Joyce, C O'Brien; T O'Mahony (0-1), D Fitzgibbon (0-4, 0-1f, 0-1 '65'); D Healy (0-3), S Barrett (1-3), S Harnedy (0-2); P Horgan (0-7, 0-4f), B Hayes (0-1), A Connolly (0-1).Subs: R Downey for O'Brien (54), T O'Connell (0-1) for O'Mahony (59), S Kingston (0-3) for Connolly (65), R O'Flynn for Harnedy (68), C Lehane (0-2) for Horgan (70+3), N O'Leary for O'Donoghue (72), B Roche for Healy (80), Connolly for Coleman (84).REFEREE: T Walsh (Waterford).
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Munster SHC final: Limerick look too far ahead to be caught on this occasion
Munster GAA SHC final Limerick v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds, Saturday, 6pm If the intrigue surrounding the counties' earlier meeting centred on how convincingly Limerick could regain their form of old and how successfully their opponents could iron out troubling inconsistencies in their performances to date, the resolution made tough viewing for Cork . READ MORE The champions got back within shouting distance of their pomp with as good a display as any since the 2023 All-Ireland. Cork, however, were a ghost of the rampaging unit that had swept to the league title only weeks previously. For Saturday, the question for Pat Ryan's team is not so much whether they can rediscover the defiance, cuteness and aggression that so bothered Limerick last year but whether they will even be in a position to do so, given injury problems. Lingering doubts about the sustainability of the champions' explosive performance will have to be addressed. To what extent did they simply unburden the frustrations and resentment at last year's 'drive for five' being unceremoniously derailed? Such an interpretation – that fury spent, Limerick will revert to the mean of this year's performances – would be wishful thinking. The scale of their domination was jaw-dropping. From Nickie Quaid 's laser-guided puck-outs, which never relented – to the ruin of Cork, who frequently did – to the buccaneering Aaron Gillane up front, they were in irresistible form. There is every chance of some drop-off, but will that facilitate a turnaround? To get where they posed such a formidable challenge, Cork needed an optimal blend of tactics, attitude and personnel. Taking on the champions' half backs took brave puck-outs and a taste for attrition as well as the sharpness of Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly on the inside forward line. Declan Dalton and Séamus Harnedy did the primary battling but three weeks ago, they managed just 43 minutes between them after the former was taken off injured in the eighth minute and is still missing. There is further difficulty for them in the reconstituted power of the Limerick half backs. In last year's All-Ireland semi-final, they managed to keep the ball out of Kyle Hayes's orbit, but his switch to centre back, facilitated by the composure and clinical distribution of Barry Nash moving to number seven, restored the formidable platform of the whole line. Darragh Fitzgibbon needs to get back to the form of last year's All-Ireland semi-final and Cork will have to improve on retrieving fewer than half of their puck-outs. Cork's Tim O'Mahony and Brian Roche struggle for possession with Cian Lynch of Limerick. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho There are complementary problems at the back. The Downeys were a powerful axis last year and even allowing for a slight downturn this season, the main damage has been Rob's injury. Ciarán Joyce has performed far more effectively on the wing than when operating centrally and with Cian Lynch conjuring on the 40, a solution is needed. On top of that, the old firm of Gearóid Hegarty and Tom Morrissey were back on the prowl, zipping around and scoring 0-8 from play at wing forward, half of the winning margin. Lynch, though, is at the heart of the champions' best play. Manager John Kiely said in reference to his captain that the best coaching allows for great players' spontaneity. After the recent victory over Cork, he eulogised: 'I think Cian got the thing off to a really great start with his presence of mind in that first two minutes. He could see it and when the first couple get going, it encourages everybody to follow suit. Our use of the ball was very, very good.' The other dog that hasn't been barking is Cork's goalscoring. Gordon Manning compiled on these pages the figures for the season to date , showing that Pat Ryan's team has outscored their opponents by 27-8 so far. But going into the previous contest three weeks ago, the disparity was the same, 24-5, and still, Limerick outscored them by three goals to one. Brian Hayes, their chief goal creator, was well marked by Dan Morrissey the last day and Connolly and Pat Horgan struggled to make their own arrangements. Cork's most pressing anxiety isn't so much that they allowed Limerick such latitude last month but that, for all their fire-breathing, goalscoring of the past 12 months, they have in fact been wearing the emperor's new clothes. Redress is essential. Verdict : Limerick 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.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Nicky English: Opportunity for redemption smaller for Cork than Galway
One of the trickiest challenges a team can face is having to play opponents whom you beat comprehensively just a few weeks previously. That is the task for both provincial champions going into this year's Munster and Leinster finals. Galway and Cork are in the other boat, having had their heads handed to them by Kilkenny and Limerick only a few weeks ago. The imperative for both if they are to have any chance going forward is to close the gap and, with that improvement, gather some momentum. It is obviously more acute for Cork, who, unlike Galway don't look to me as if they're picking up form. They couldn't really have been happy with the mixed performance against Waterford, which provided little reassurance after the mauling in Limerick. Cork have gone from being favourites for the championship to nearly an unknown package in terms of their real worth. READ MORE To re-establish themselves as realistic contenders after losing by 15 points, they need to compete and knock about 10 off that deficit. That's not going to be easy. Limerick were outstanding the last day and although they fell back against Clare, I'm inclined to discount that result. They made plenty of changes but the key men will all be back on Saturday. They blew Cork out the last day, in all areas of the field from Nickie Quaid's puck-outs up to the full forward line. In the end, Cork were looking for the final whistle, just to get out of there. How much weight should be attached to the incentive to do better and potential complacency in the champions' camp? Probably not enough to overturn all known form. Leaving aside the Limerick match, which was a disaster, Cork have been inconsistent, looking very good at times but then in the same games, ineffective. There have been poor second-halves against Clare and Tipperary – twice – and a very mixed bag against Waterford. Defence has been an issue and they are badly hit by injury. Ger Millerick was one of the better performers the last day and he's out but the man he replaced, Niall O'Leary, who had been playing quite well at corner back, is back. Rob Downey has been played when he didn't look fit and didn't line out against Waterford but is named this weekend. On the last trip to the Gaelic Grounds, he was switched with Ciarán Joyce, who was detailed to pick up Cian Lynch – except he didn't. Playing loose at centre back allowed Lynch to pull the strings, which he did to mesmerising effect. Opponents, like fans, are often mesmerised by Limerick's Cian Lynch. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho What happens this time? I said from the start that John Kiely's biggest concern would be to get all his players fit and on the field and that's what has happened. Lynch is a barometer of their wellbeing and his form has been back to its best. In general, they look better than last year. Adam English has become an exceptional midfielder. Cathal O'Neill, one of their best players a year ago, is coming back. Kyle Hayes has strengthened centre back and Barry Nash, who didn't play in last year's semi-final, has slotted in outstandingly well on the left wing. Cork's main platform in the wins over Limerick last year was quick puck-outs and getting the half backs turned. Séamus Harnedy and Declan Dalton caused huge disruption but the last day, Dalton had to go off injured and there's still no sign of him. Harnedy came on and improved things a bit but in the first half against the elements, the likes of Hayes were just unmanageable with the ball in the air, held up in a gusting wind. It really is hard to see anything apart from a Limerick win. Galway also have ground to make up at Croke Park but they certainly have improved since losing in Kilkenny and have found more of a team dynamic. They've become more balanced. There was a lot of experimentation during the league but Micheál Donoghue has put together a team with a lot of the experienced players slotted into place. Their half-back line has become pretty solid. Cianan Fahey, Gavin Lee and TJ Brennan have become quite forceful in that zone. Cathal Mannion has been scoring freely and Conor Whelan, playing a deeper role, and Brian Concannon are picking up form nicely. I felt Dublin would beat them but they were comfortable, scored fluently and never looked in trouble. Kilkenny have been playing quietly off-Broadway, as I've said before. They lost to Wexford in what has nearly become an annual event but they were safely in the final by then. I don't really subscribe to the idea that they are dark horses for the All-Ireland but we'll learn more about them this weekend because it won't surprise me if Galway bring their best display of the year to date. If they do, it will be a significant test. The easy call is Kilkenny but they're still depending on TJ Reid, and Eoin Cody is out with a hamstring injury. Martin Keoghan and John Donnelly have stepped up in recent times and, under Derek Lyng, they always add up to the sum of their parts and often exceed it, but I'm still not convinced. On a final point, we have just had the June bank holiday but there are only seven matches left in the entire championship for the rest of the summer. I know the die has been cast on this but to me, it makes no sense whatsoever.
Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Nicky English: Limerick showed All-Ireland intent in shaking Cork to their core
I believed going into this weekend that we would be watching the best two teams in the championship playing in Limerick. The scary thing, especially for Cork , is that may still be true but it's a long drop from first to second. Limerick were savage on the day. You could probably put a best 15 from all of the other teams together and they wouldn't have been beaten here. That's as impressive as I've seen them in a couple of years – since the Munster finals in 2019 and 2021 and the '21 All-Ireland. It was that good. [ Limerick show they haven't gone away by dismantling Cork Opens in new window ] The question before the championship was would John Kiely have all of his players healthy and ready to go? He did on Sunday. Will they be all healthy in eight weeks' time? Who knows, but on this evidence, at their best they are untouchable. Ominously, Will O'Donoghue and Gearóid Hegarty are still improving as well, getting closer to their best. Nickie Quaid was a likely non-starter in the championship – the Munster Championship, anyway – or so we thought. READ MORE Yet there he was, making outstanding puck-out decisions, and when Cork needed goals to stay in it in the first half, he saves from Patrick Hogan. The ball is worked up the field smartly to Hegarty, who scores a point at the other end. Cork's Shane Barrett and Limerick's Tom Morrissey. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho In general, the improvement they showed against Waterford was not only maintained but the rate of improvement was as well. The first point that Tom Morrissey got came from a very snappily hit pass from Cian Lynch, which Morrissey took on the full and went on to score. It was like a declaration of intent and showed straight away that Limerick were really on their game. I think it was a more important match for them than it was for Cork. Limerick lost the five-in-a-row last year when Cork beat them in the All-Ireland semi-final. I've heard O'Donoghue saying they just get over it and focus on the future, but obviously something like that hits deep and hard because they were probably the best team in last year's championship. They played well enough to beat Cork but yet didn't manage to. Maybe it was the stress of the drive for five but they also had key injuries. Barry Nash, another who was outstanding this weekend, missed that semi-final. Their depth is now enviable. Cathal O'Neill is a replacement because Tom Morrissey has improved and is capable of scoring five points in a match and because Adam English has been outstanding. O'Neill would be starting for any other team. Adam English celebrates after scoring Limerick's second goal. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho Kyle Hayes was named Man of the Match, and rightly so, but English for me was a close second. He scored a goal and a couple of points, but overall his touch was so silky and his footwork so neat. He also got on a load of ball and delivered it brilliantly in front of him. You'd love to be a corner forward with that quality of supply. Aaron Gillane was on it from an early stage with his goal and ran amok. We've questioned the Cork full-back line in the past having previously been in trouble against both Limerick and Clare, and they were again under all kinds of pressure here with little option but to foul. The Limerick defence, particularly with Hayes in front of the full-back line, were just winning every high ball that was incoming. By the time English scored the second goal, they were out of sight. Will Cork get over it? It's a long way from the confidence of winning the league, so it's not going to be easy. A saving grace is that they're back on the bike very quickly against Waterford, who have their own issues and are probably an ideal match for Pat Ryan's men to start the recovery process. The problem with that is there's a very ominous prize for winning, playing Limerick again in a couple of weeks in the Munster final. If Limerick repeat what they did this weekend, there's nobody who will come near them. The All-Ireland is eight weeks away but this was a massive statement.
