IN the 73 years since Cork last lost a championship match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh there have been some disappointments on the road for the southerners, but yesterday Jimmy Barry Murphy's worst nightmare came to pass as his team, a point in front at the turnaround, suffered a second half mauling in front of 23,401 spectators.
His team managed just three second half points while conceding 3-11 on the way to their worst championship defeat at any venue since 1936. With the wind at their backs in the first half they brought the game to their visitors, but Tom Ryan's men had far too much for the Corkmen through the second period, with six points from Gary Kirby, and two Padraig Tobin goals in three minutes providing the backbone of a memorable victory.
Injury and inexperience con tributed to the hosts' downfall, but not nearly as much as did the positive approach of Limerick who, having taken the lead shortly after the restart, never eased the pressure on their opponents and benefitted from fine individual performances by young Mark Foley, captain Ciaran Carey and substitute TJ Ryan.
"It was embarrassing, and I feel sorry for the supporters," said the Cork manager afterwards "Limerick were entitled to be as confident as they were coming down. Cork will come again," he maintained, though adding that "it's just an even longer road back than we thought."
If Jimmy Barry Murphy's managerial debut in the championship turned out to be something of a protracted nightmare, Dessie McNamara's first appearance in the competition for Donegal will be remembered, amongst other things, for its brevity.
The newcomer lasted just 15 seconds before an off the ball foul on Michael Magill in full view of the nearby linesman led to his dismissal and his team's reduction in strength to 14 men.
Four years ago the Donegalmen rose to just such a challenge in the Ulster final when they beat Derry after having one of their number sent to the line, but this time they were to be edged out by 1-9 to 11 points.
The game swung one way and then the other, providing plenty of drama with Down benefitting initially, taking the lead when Donegal goalkeeper Gary Walsh appeared to save Conor Deegan's hopeful long range shot only to step back over his own line.
Leading by six points after 21 minutes, Down appeared to be starting to cruise, but a couple of points from Manus Boyle and some fine work by Damien Diver, Martin Shovlin and Mark Crossan helped Donegal to narrow the gap before the break, while after it three quick points ensured that the 1994 All Ireland Championships would have to scrap their way through the second period.
After 55 minutes the sides were level when Down's goalkeeper Michael McVeigh produced a stunning save from James Ruane which in turn started a move that led to a point for his side through Mickey Linden and from then on the beaten National League finalists failed to make the late breakthrough they required.
"We got out of jail, I think," said James McCartan afterwards. "If you were a Donegalman you'd be feeling very aggrieved. A man sent off after 15 seconds, a goal given away after I don't know bow many minutes ... That's 18 months worth of luck we got today."
In Markievicz Park, Sligo's long long wait for a championship victory over Galway almost came to an end. Almost. The challengers led the champions by five points to three at the break but couldn't keep up their momentum as Galway gained a growing sense of urgency and in the end the two sides finished up with one goal and 11 points.
In difficult conditions Galway battled from behind to lead by 18 to eight points after Niall Finnegan had scored a goal in the 46th minute, but Paul Taylor found the net for Sligo after Paul Durcan's shot had been parried by Cathal McGinley.
Still it was Galway who led the game into the dying minutes when a solitary point separated the two sides, but once again it was Taylor who saved the day for Sligo and won them a replay when he converted a late, and somewhat harsh, free against fullback Gary Fahy.
In the day's other football championship match, Carlow overcame the challenge of Wicklow by a goal (4-10 to 3-10) in an entertaining clash at Newbridge, where Colm Hayden came on to score two of the winners' goals. Carlow earned themselves a quarter final clash with Meath on June 16th.
