skip to main content

Kingston hits late winner as Cork rally stuns Limerick in Allianz Hurling League

Updated / Saturday, 4 Feb 2023 21:47
Shane Kingston (right) is congratulated after scoring his late winner
Shane Kingston (right) is congratulated after scoring his late winner

A last-second point from substitute Shane Kingston made sure that Cork got their first win over Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in nine years.

The Rebels fought back from an eight-point half-time deficit to open their Allianz Hurling League campaign with a one-point victory.

It was the second time this year that Pat Ryan's team have overcome the reigning All-Ireland champions, with the other victory coming last month in the Munster Senior Hurling League. That followed success in the Canon O’Brien Cup, and the two pieces of silverware gave the Rebels plenty of momentum going into opening night.

Limerick brought Cork right back down to earth with a dominating first half that saw them only hit four wides. Scores were coming from their entire team with David Reidy leading the charts with five points.

They asserted themselves early and opened up a three-score lead inside ten minutes. Cork’s chase was led by Patrick Horgan, who converted four frees.

Then Limerick pulled away with six answered points, a run which saw Barry Murphy, Seamus Flanagan, and Adam English all register scores. Cork were left kicking themselves as they went into the break having hit nine wides to Limerick’s four.

Their biggest mishap came from Robbie O’Flynn, with the corner-forward ending a powerful run down the left flank with a wide shot that looked destined for goal. This would have made it 1-03 to 0-05 and Cork would have been in front, but he was left looking up in frustration as David McCarthy sent the ball out and Tom Morrissey put it over from open play.

Cork responded to the frustration, and the pressure of 19,516 spectators under the lights, by hitting 1-04 after the restart. It was O’Flynn’s goal, which saw him collect the ball from Declan Dalton and drive the sliotar in from the tightest of angles, that shifted momentum and gave Cork a road to a comeback.

The creator of that finished off an excellent move that started with a long ball from Patrick Collins, and his fumbling finish raised another green flag. That drew the game level and in the 54th minute, a driven effort from Ciaran Joyce put Cork into the lead for the first time.

From here on it was a shoot-out, with neither team able to open nothing more than a two-point lead. Limerick looked like they might snatch it through Donnacha Ó Dálaigh and Reidy, but Horgan and Conor Lehane scored twice in quick succession.

It went down to the final few seconds of the ten minutes added on, a lengthy addition over an injury to O’Flynn, and Kingston poked the sliotar over from the right to complete the comeback and give the Rebels the win.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Conor O'Callaghan, Eoin Downey (0-01), Sean O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Connell, Ciarán Joyce (0-01), Damien Cahalane, Brian O’Sullivan, Luke Meade (0-01), Brian Roche (0-01), Conor Lehane, Cormac Beausang, Declan Dalton (1-00), Patrick Horgan (0-10, 6f, 1 '45), Robbie O’Flynn (1-01).

Subs: Niall O’Leary for Sean O’Donoghue (29), Shane Kingston (0-01) for Cormac Beausang (39), Shane Barrett for Brian O’Sullivan (43), Brain Hayes for Declan Dalton (55), Conor Cahalane (0-01) for Robbie O’Flynn (51).

Limerick: David McCarthy; Sean Finn, Richie English, Aaron Costello, Dan Morrissey, Declan Hannon (0-01), Colin Coughlan (0-02), Darragh O’Donovan (0-01), Barry Murphy (0-01), Gearoid Hegarty (0-03), David Reidy (0-08, 7f, 1 '45), Tom Morrissey (0-01), Adam English (0-02), Seamus Flanagan (0-01), Oisin O Reilly.

Subs: Shane O’Brien for Oisin O’Reilly (40), Ciaran Barry (0-01) for Declan Hannon (48) Graham Mulcahy for Adam English (55), Cian Lynch for Gearoid Hegarty (57), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (0-01) for Seamus Flanaghan (68),

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).

More stories on

Read Next