Cork 2-12 Limerick 0-10
Good scoring contributions from captain Paul Kerrigan and Mark Collins helped Cork overcome the challenge of Limerick in this afternoon’s All-Ireland SFC round 2B qualifier in Thurles.
Cork bounced back from their shock Munster SFC semi-final defeat against Tipperary to rekindle their season against the Shannonsiders.
Cork’s campaign is still alive and while they did what they had to do today, better opposition could have troubled the Leesiders.
Goals in either half from young full-forward Peter Kelleher and Kerrigan helped ease Cork to an eight-point win.
The return of experienced midfielder Alan O’Connor after a year out strengthened Cork considerably and he dovetailed well with sidekick Ian Maguire.
For Kelleher, it was a full championship debut after two previous appearances off the bench, including the Tipp defeat.
The wisdom or otherwise of not starting Kelleher against Tipp was the subject of much debate in Cork and he certainly did well against Limerick today.
The Kilmichael man scored a goal, could have had two more, and was a constant threat.
Fellow attackers Kerrigan and Collins were in good form too, Kerrigan notching 1-3 from play as Collins collected five points.
Cork were ten points up in stoppage time before Limerick contributed the final two points of the game but in truth, the Shannonsiders were outclassed.
Better opposition could have troubled vulnerable Cork this afternoon but with O’Connor and Maguire on song, the winners had a stranglehold around the middle third.
Cork were 1-6 to 0-4 clear at half-time, with Kelleher netting at the second attempt in the 14th minute.
Cork could have had more first half goals but Colm O’Neill’s fifth-minute penalty was well saved by Donal O’Sullivan, Kelleher palmed an effort off the crossbar and Kerrigan blazed wide after cutting through.
Cork were 0-3 to 0-0 clear before Darragh Treacy opened Limerick’s account but John Brudair’s charges wouldn’t score again for 17 minutes and Cork took over to lead by 1-5 to 0-1.
Despite having the breeze for the second half, Limerick were on the back-foot as Collins struck a deceptive effort off the crossbar before Kerrigan bagged a brace of points.
Kelleher forced another good save from O’Sullivan but Cork still led by eight points on a couple of occasions; with Limerick only getting as close as six in the second half.
Kerrigan netted in stoppage time to add gloss to the final scoreline but vast improvement is needed ahead of next weekend’s latest assignment for Cork.
CORK: R Price; C O’Driscoll, E Cadogan, N Galvin; T Clancy, J Loughrey, B O’Driscoll; A O’Connor, I Maguire; P Kerrigan (1-03), M Collins (0-05), K O’Driscoll; C O’Neill (0-01f), P Kelleher (1-00), L Connolly (0-01f).
Subs: S Powter for B O’Driscoll (h.t.), D Goulding for O’Neill (46), J O’Rourke (0-01) for Connolly (49), R Deane for O’Connor (60), M Hurley (0-01) for K O’Driscoll (65), P Kelly for Kelleher (68).
LIMERICK: D O’Sullivan; P Browne, S Cahill, J McCarthy; P Ranahan, S O’Dea, B Fanning; S Buckley (0-01), D Treacy (0-02); G Noonan, P Nash, T Childs; H Bourke, I Ryan (0-04, 3f), S McSweeney (0-01f).
Subs: I Corbett (0-02) for Childs (27), E Hogan for McSweeney (47), P White for Ranahan (52), P Scanlan for Bourke (55), J Naughton for Nash (63), K Ryan for O’Dea (69).
Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).
