skip to main content

Limerick retain their McGrath Cup crown

John Quane came out of retirement to lead Limerick to McGrath Cup glory
John Quane came out of retirement to lead Limerick to McGrath Cup glory

Goals in either half from Ger Ahern and Micheal Reidy saw Limerick's footballers retain their McGrath Cup crown, defeating a valiant Cork IT side 2-09 to 1-03 at the Gaelic Grounds.

33-year-old midfielder John Quane picked up the county's third title in four years, just four months after quitting the inter-county scene.

The students were left counting the cost of seven first half wides, and a number of shots from both Daniel Goulding and Paul O'Flynn which hit the Limerick uprights.

The visitors led 1-00 to 0-02 after 19 minutes, despite the early concession of points to Limerick's Johnny Murphy and Sean Buckley.

Cork corner forward Brian Sheehan goaled past Mike Jones in the tenth minute, while a tricky Sheehan ball-in also had defender Johnny McCarthy saving Limerick blushes on their goal line.

Liam Kearns' home side reassumed the lead for a 1-03 to 1-01 half-time buffer nevertheless, with Ahern waltzing along the end line to net and another Murphy score cancelling out Alan Morgan's point.

The Treaty men lost Jim Donovan to the sin-bin on the restart but Reidy's 47th-minute penalty, after Colm Hickey was up-ended, coupled with well-taken points from Buckley, Conor Mullane and substitute Muiris Gavin saw them home.

Read Next