Goals were plentiful as Cork eased through to the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Football Championship with a comfortable 4-16 to 1-16 victory over Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The Rebels hit the back of the next four times in the first half with Dara Sheedy, Tommy Walsh, Sean McDonnell and Ian Maguire raising green flags as John Cleary's side went into the break leading 4-10 to 0-7.
John Cleary's will play Tipperary in the next round following their victory over Waterford, as they aim to qualify for a first Munster final since 2021.
The Treaty County started strong, with James Naughton giving them an early lead with a two-pointer from play in the fifth minute. Paul Walsh replied and Rory O’Brien restored Limerick’s advantage at 0-3 to 0-1, something that promised a close encounter.
Then came two goals in the 14th minute, from Sheedy and Tommy Walsh, as Cork stormed into the lead.
The home side built on this with Steven Sherlock, Chris Óg Jones and Luke Fahy putting the ball over the bar in quick succession.
McDonnell’s goal arrived in the 23rd minute, becoming the last Cork forward to score by punching in from right in front of the posts at the City End. Maguire got in on the goalscoring action by twisting past Jeffery Alfred and firing into an empty net, while Sherlock closed out the half with a free and a ’45.
Limerick hit back on the restart with Eliah Riordan put over a 45’ and it got even better shortly after with Naughton converting a penalty after Robbie Childs was fouled as Cork made a bags of the short kickout.
Brian O’Driscoll was shown a black card for his part in the incident before receiving his marching orders in in the 59th minute after picking up a yellow card.
At that point, Limerick were chipping away as they closed the gap down to eight points with a white flag raised by Fahy.
Cork’s bench helped Cleary’s side get through the rest of the game without any fuss. Castlehaven duo Conor Cahalane and Brian Hurley were two of those that came on and had an impact, as they combined to score four points.
They even worked together to create a goal scoring opportunity for Maurice Shanley in the 65th minute, the full-back denied by an excellent save from Alfred at the Blackrock End.
Cork had more than enough in the tank when the referee blew for full-time, with attention now turning to a meeting with Tipperary on Saturday, 25 April.
Cork: Micheál Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Seán Meehan; Brian O’Driscoll, Tommy Walsh (1-0), Luke Fahy (0-1); Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire (1-0); Paul Walsh (0-2), Mark Cronin (0-3), Seán McDonnell (1-0); Chris Óg Jones (0-2), Dara Sheedy (1-0), Steven Sherlock (0-4, 1 45, 1f).
Subs: Conor Cahalane (0-3) for Sheedy (HT); Conor Corbett for McDonnell (53), Brian Hurley (0-1) for Cronin (53), David Buckley for Jones (66), Darragh Cashman for Fahy (66)
Limerick: Jeffrey Alfred; Sean Kilbridge, Cormac Woulfe, Diarmuid Buckley; Barry Coleman (0-2, 1 2pt), Killian Ryan (0-1), Tony McCarthy; Eliah O’Riordan (0-5, 4 45s, 1f), Jack McCarthy; Rory O’Brien (0-1), Cillian Fahy (0-1), Paul Maher; Robbie Childs, James Naughton (1-4, 1P, 1F), Danny Neville.
Subs: Colm McSweeney for Jack McCarthy (HT); Peter Nash (0-1) for Maher (HT), Shane Cross for O’Brien (54), Mark McCarthy (0-1) for Tony McCarthy (61).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
