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AS STATEMENT PERFORMANCES GO, this one from Limerick will rank as high with anything they’ve produced in the John Kiely era.
They blew Cork away by 16 points this afternoon to leave the home support in a joyous mood. Qualification from Munster has been assured and Limerick’s favourite status to land a seventh provincial title on the bounce has hardened after the scale of victory they served up here.
Cork were left chastened after this beating and know they must now get a positive result at home to Waterford next Sunday to prolong their season.
The cold truth was that this game was settled by the interval, Limerick retreating to the dressing-room with the comfort of a commanding 2-18 to 0-9 advantage.
Goals from Aaron Gillane and Adam English underlined their utter dominance in that period. After Tom Morrissey had snapped over a brace of points, Gillane set the tone when he gathered the ball in the left corner, and availed of a slip by Niall O’Leary. The Patrickswell man galloped in along the endline, sidestepped Ciarán Joyce and drilled home his shot.
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 2-7 (1-6 frees, 1-0 pen), Adam English 1-2, Tom Morrissey 0-5, Gearóid Hegarty 0-3, Peter Casey 0-2, Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Michael Casey 0-1, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-1, Cian Lynch 0-1, Shane O’Brien 0-1, David Reidy 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-9 (1-8 frees), Séamus Harnedy 0-2, Robert Downey 0-1, Mark Coleman 0-1, Shane Barrett 0-1, Brian Hayes 0-1, Brian Roche 0-1.
1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)
4. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
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
1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
2. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), 3. Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), 4. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
7. Mark Coleman (Blarney), 5. Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), 6. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers – captain)
8. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), 9. Ethan Twomey (St.Finbarr’s)
10. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), 11. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), 12. Shane Barrett (Blarney)
13. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), 15. Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s), 14. Alan Connolly (Blackrock)
Subs
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
*****
Written by Fintan O’Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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Super Limerick, a performance of the ages.
@Paddy Ryan: even the headline using the word ” hammered” doesn’t do the Limerick performance justice. As a proud Cork native & supporter we really got schooled & trashed out there today……….. Limerick owned every square inch of the pitch. Very disappointed….. expected a closely run thing. Can’t take anything away from Limerick — well played/ deserved winners
@Buster Lawless:
To be honest probably the best thing to happen cork, in a good way. It now takes the pressure off them in terms of winning the all ireland. Let’s hope Limerick don’t get carried away. Cork will be back.
@Paddy Ryan: limerick won’t get carried away and Cork won’t be back ,so looking like Kilkenny will be the only crowd to worry about.
Cork way off the pace of the game today. Hard to understand why that was.
@Jp Cleary: Today it looked like men v boys , I’ve never seen the amount of space afforded Limerick. Limerick were superb and couldn’t see them being beaten, or whoever does will be champions.
Cork, even though there are improvements, doesn’t seem cohesive. Relying on long balls into forwards today wasn’t the best strategy, and winning 50/50s very poor,
Corks Captain not sure if he’s capable of playing never mind leading.
If Cork play like that next week Waterford will qualify.
As has always been said
It’ means absolutely nothing being billy big boils in the league
It’s May – June in the champo is when your boils are measured
Limerick blew Cork away ,
@Chris: And Limerick are leagues away from Cork.
@Chris: I hate boils
Embarrassing for Cork.
Limerick were playing soccer with them amazing skill on show
@Patrick: Brilliant hurling by Limerick. Nothing is stopping them now.
No stopping limerick
Fantastic game, the skill was unreal. Did anyone notice the blonde lady shouting at Kyle Hayes during his Rte interview afterwards? Someone put his hand over her mouth and dragged her away.
@John O’Neill: Just had a look on UTube. Judging by the fake tan, yard brushes over her eyes and white teeth, I’d say not far removed from the canvas !
@Lulu: I love the ” yard brushes over the eyes ” bit. I’d say you are not far off in your conclusion.
@Lulu: A bit like Hayes, then.
Amazing stat. Today was Mike Caseys first point in Championship hurling. Not including league, just Munster and All Ireland series
That was men against boys limerick look the real deal will be hard to stop on this form
Credit Limerick’s brilliant performance. Unfortunately This Cork team caved in from a winning position in last year’s All Ireland and this year while there have been good one half performances this year they have as yet failed to turn up for a 70/75 minutes in a match.
Time is not lost if they choose to dispense with non performing players and like Tipp trust their U20′s who have a winning mentality. Cork management choosen to send our lads back to their clubs. Check out William Buckley from St Finbarrs
@Tim Brennan: so you reckon a sprinkling of U20 ‘ s is whats needed to stop Limerick ??
Have a day of lad , Limericks trophy to lose , unstoppable
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