Gaelic Games

Cork finish like a train to complete quickfire Munster minor double

Young Rebels scored the last eight points in Thurles to see off game Limerick challenge

Cork players celebrate with the Tadhg Crowley Cup after their win over Limerick in the Electric Ireland Munster minor football final at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Cork players celebrate with the Tadhg Crowley Cup after their win over Limerick in the Electric Ireland Munster minor football final at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Wed Aug 11 2021 - 21:51

Cork 1-17 Limerick 0-13

Cork finished strongly to complete a Munster minor championship double in 48 hours following a terrific football contest against a fine Limerick side in Thurles on Wednesday.

It was Cork’s 30th title and their first since 2011, but they were made battle all the way by Limerick, who led at the second water break, but came under siege in the closing 10 minutes.

Cork scored the last eight points, including a couple from joint-captain and man-of-the-match Hugh O’Connor, who kicked 1-7 in all.

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Cork’s Hugh O’Connor gets to the ball ahead of Limerick’s Michael Kilbridge at Semple Stadium. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Cork’s Hugh O’Connor gets to the ball ahead of Limerick’s Michael Kilbridge at Semple Stadium. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho

Such a scenario seemed unlikely after Limerick dictated matters in the third quarter despite falling five points adrift, but they were inspired by the driving play of captain Darragh Murray.

They outscored their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2 in the period to lead by 0-12 to 1-8 and a major shock loomed large, but Cork showed commendable battling qualities to turn the game around.

Cork started brilliantly with a sensational goal in the fourth minute, O’Connor completing a move which started with goalkeeper Mikey O’Connell, but they then went 18 minutes without a score.

Limerick, who kicked seven first-half wides, managed to settle and were still in the game despite trailing by four at the break.

Cork finished with 14 players following the second yellow card shown to defender Patrick O’Grady near the end, but they were on their way to adding the provincial minor title to the under-20 at that stage.

CORK: M O'Connell; D Twomey (0-1), S O'Connell, P O'Grady; S Copps (0-1), C Twomey, D O'Brien; M McSweeney (0-1), R O'Shaughnessy (0-1); J O'Neill (0-1), N Kelly, C Gillespie (0-1); O Corcorcan, J O'Driscoll (0-2), H O'Connor , (1-7, two frees).

Subs: B Hayes for Corcoran (38 mins), A Kelleher for C Twomey (43), D Crowley (0-1) for Gillespie (48), L O'Herlihy (0-1) for Kelly (51), F Crowley for McSweeney (52).

LIMERICK: C MacInnes; M Kilbridge, J Behan, D Clifford; L Murphy, A Neville, S Kiely; J Somers, D Murray (0-8, seven frees); M Nolan, E Rigter (0-1), O O'Farrell; S Geraghty (0-2), R Cronin (0-1), C O'Duinn (0-1).

Subs: P Kennedy for Cronin half-time, R Quirke for Nolan (40), C Boyle for Murphy (51), S Cross for Geraghty (59), J Ryan for Kiely (60).

Referee: C Maguire (Clare).