Munster Hurling League Group B round 2
Limerick 1-28 Cork 0-16
Donnacha Ó Dálaigh made it three goals in two games as a strong Limerick selection cruised past an inexperienced Cork side in Group B of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League.
Ó Dálaigh (1-03), free-taker Tom Morrissey (0-06), Peter Casey (0-04), and Cian Lynch (0-03) were among 13 different Treaty scorers in the 15-point win before 2,362 fans at the Gaelic Grounds.
While both sides lined up without their college contingent, John Kiely went with a more seasoned team featuring seven All-Stars, including William O'Donoghue at centre-back, Casey at centre-forward, and Gearóid Hegarty on the edge of the square.
Ben O’Connor has yet to call upon last year’s All-Ireland starting team as he handed out debuts to Ballyhea wing-back Tom Hanley, Castlelyons midfielder James Kearney, and Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels wing-forward Colin O’Brien.
O’Brien got off to the perfect start by slotting the opening point and Hanley would also swing over a fine score before the break.
Those were the Rebel highlights as Limerick otherwise showed their superiority throughout. In the first half alone, they peppered 27 shots at the posts across 30 minutes against Cork’s 10.
Wides delayed their progress, firing 11 by the break. Morrissey looked bright as he slotted their opening pair, including a 65, before teeing up Lynch for a no-look snapshot which travelled over the black spot.
Jack O’Connor escaped down the middle for a Cork goal chance, but converted goalkeeper Colin Ryan showed sharp reflexes to save down low.
They had another chance when Seán Desmond intercepted Ryan’s pass, but directed his shot just over rather than into the empty net from 30 yards out.
Robbie O’Flynn registered the point of the match when speeding past two defenders and splitting the posts without taking the sliotar to hand. They trailed by one, but the gap only grew from there.
Lynch, Casey, and Ó Dálaigh profited from advanced turnovers as Cork tried to work the sliotar out from short puck-outs.
Wing-backs Chris Thomas and Matthew Fitzgerald also came forward for scores. Ó Dálaigh had a sight of goal but fired wide, by which stage the wide count was approaching 10-nil.
Darragh O’Donovan pointed with his final act for a 0-16 to 0-07 half-time lead, and Mike Casey arrowed over with his first touch on the resumption.
That sparked a six-point streak, although Hegarty was somehow denied a goal as Ger Millerick’s last-gasp block protected the empty net.
Hugh Flanagan fired wide with another goal chance before teeing up Ó Dálaigh to rifle home in the 50th minute.
Subs registered on both sides, with Jack Cosgrove and James Finn off the mark for Limerick, and Brian O’Sullivan and Matthew Barrett pointing for Cork.
Limerick: C Ryan; B Murphy, S Finn, E Stokes; C Thomas (0-01), W O’Donoghue, M Fitzgerald (0-01); C Lynch (0-03), D O’Donovan (0-01); J English (0-03), P Casey (0-04), T Morrissey (0-06, 3f, 2 65s); G Hegarty (0-01), D Ó Dálaigh (1-03), P O’Donovan (0-02). Subs: J Fitzgerald for D O’Donovan (h-t), M Casey (0-01) for O’Donoghue (h-t), E Hurley for P Casey (43), D O’Shea for Thomas (46), H Flanagan for Lynch (46), J O’Connor for Hegarty (56), J Cosgrove (0-01) for P O’Donovan (56), J Finn (0-01) for Fitzgerald (56).
Cork: B Saunderson; C Doolan, E Roche, G Millerick; T Hanley (0-01), E Twomey, C Tobin (0-01); C Darcy, J Kearney; Colin O’Brien (0-01), Colm McCarthy (0-03, 2f), J O’Connor (0-02); J Cahalane (0-01), S Desmond (0-02), R O’Flynn (0-02). Subs: B O’Sullivan (0-02, 2f) for Colin O’Brien (h-t), Cormac O’Brien for Kearney (h-t), J Casey for Tobin (52), M Barrett (0-01) for McCarthy (52), B O’Flynn for Darcy (52).Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).
Meanwhile, in Group A of the Munster Hurling League, Waterford racked up a huge score against Kerry at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, winning by 6-25 to 0-06 in Dungarvan.
In football, Offaly progressed to the semi-finals of the Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup, thanks to a 2-13 to 0-15 defeat of Meath at Gracefield GAA Club in Portarlington. First-half goals from Cormac Egan and Jordan Hayes proved decisive for the Faithful County.
Offaly will now meet Westmeath, who got past Louth 2-15 to 0-15 in the other quarter-final at St Loman's in Mullingar. Brian Guerin and Brandon Kelly found the net for Westmeath.
In the O'Byrne Shield competition, Colm Hulton's goal proved pivotal as Carlow saw off Wexford by a 1-13 to 0-13 margin to advance to the semi-finals where they will meet Laois on Saturday.
It was also a busy night in the Dr McKenna Cup. Oisín O'Neill (penalty), Tiernan Kelly and Sean Conlon got the goals as Armagh overcame Down 3-10 to 0-10 in Section A at Páirc Esler, Fermanagh edged out Cavan by a 1-12 to 1-10 scoreline at Tempo Maguires GAC in Section B, while Derry put in a strong second-half display to see off Antrim 2-16 to 0-07 at Owenbeg in Section C.
