Brilliant Cork deny Limerick's five-in-a-row bid to move into All-Ireland SHC final

July 07, 2024

Cork's Brian Hayes scores a goal against Limerick ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Cork are All-Ireland SHC final bound after delivering an outstanding performance at a sold out Croke Park to dethrone Limerick and end their five-in-a-row dreams.

The scoreboard read 1-28 to 0-29 at the end of a pulsating contest at headquarters, where Pat Ryan’s side produced a sensational third quarter before holding off the Treaty men’s late rally enough to get over the line towards a decider date with Clare in two weeks’ time.

The Rebels had edged a 0-7 to 0-6 lead when Brian Hayes smashed in their goal in the 17th minute, and he’d have the sliotar in the holders’ net again two minutes later only for the strike to be ruled out after Alan Connolly was penalised for a thrown pass in the build-up.

From there, Limerick would go on to outscore their neighbours by 0-10 to 0-3 for the remainder of the half, with David Reidy, Cathal O’Neill and the excellent Aaron Gillane to the fore for them, to take in a 0-16 to 1-11 lead at the break.

Darragh Fitzgibbon got the Leesiders motoring again after the change of ends with a superb point and they’d storm back in front after more white flags from Patrick Horgan, Shane Barrett and Connolly.

The next 10 minutes belonged to the underdogs as Declan Dalton, Horgan and Seamus Harnedy stretched their advantage out to seven points with some 20 minutes left on the clock.

Responding like champions, John Kiely’s men dwindled their deficit down to two and would see a late goal chance stopped by some Patrick Collins heroics in the Cork goal, as they finished two points short in the end and it now sees Cork and Clare set to battle it out in a repeat of the 2013 final.


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