Gaelic Games

Limerick profit from experience to win Waterford Crystal Cup

Adrian Breen and Gavin O’Mahony goals provide victory platform

Andy Walsh of Cork battles with Niall Moran of Limerick during the Waterford Crystal Cup final in Mallow, Co Cork. Photograph: Inpho
Andy Walsh of Cork battles with Niall Moran of Limerick during the Waterford Crystal Cup final in Mallow, Co Cork. Photograph: Inpho
Mon Feb 02 2015 - 01:00

Limerick 3-20 Cork 1-16

Two goals from Adrian Breen and one by Gavin O'Mahony helped a more experienced Limerick outfit to better Cork in the Waterford Crystal Cup final at Mallow on Saturday night.

While Stephen Moylan’s early goal had put Cork into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead, O’Mahony’s goal, a fine individual effort, was the centrepiece of an unanswered Limerick flurry of 1-4 to put them in command.

Response

While Cork responded wellwith points from

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Brian Lawton

and Cian McCarthy, Breen’s first goal on the half-hour put Limerick five clear. The same gap was in place at half-time, Limerick leading by 2-11 to 1-9, and they eased further clear with points from O’Mahony and Lynch on the resumption.

Still Cork couldn’t be shaken off though as they got five points out of six, McCarthy’s eighth bringing them to within a goal, 2-15 to 1-15, with just over a quarter of an hour left.

Kevin Downes and James Ryan were on hand to give Limerick breathing space and then Breen got his second goal with a driven ground shot after sub Pat Begley set him up.

With an eight-point advantage, they saw out the game to ensure victory.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; T Condon (0-2), D O'Grady, D Morrissey; J Ryan (0-4), C King (0-1); N Moran (0-1), G O'Mahony (1-2), C Lynch (0-4); T Morrissey (0-2), S Dowling (0-1), A Breen (2-3). Subs: P Browne for Moran (39 mins), W McNamara for Condon (41 mins), P Begley for King (55 mins), J Fitzgibbon for Lynch (60 mins), C Allis for O'Grady (65 mins). CORK: P Collins; W Kearney, D Cahalane, S O'Donoghue; B O'Sullivan, L McLoughlin, G O'Connor; P Haughney (0-2), A Walsh (0-2); B Lawton (0-1), C McCarthy (0-8, three frees), B Murray (0-1); S Moylan (1-0), L O'Farrell (0-1), D McCarthy. Subs: S Harnedy for Murray, M Ellis for O'Connor (both half-time), P Horgan (0-1) for D McCarthy (47 mins), C O'Sullivan for O'Donoghue (54 mins). Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).