Sport

Limerick show courage under fire

Cork 2-21 Limerick 1-14: THE REIGN of Justin McCarthy and his management team will be under renewed attention after this 10-…

Mon Mar 01 2010 - 00:00

Cork 2-21 Limerick 1-14:THE REIGN of Justin McCarthy and his management team will be under renewed attention after this 10-point defeat at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday in the first hurling tie to be played under lights.

But McCarthy stressed later of how proud he was of the courage and passion shown by his side.

“It should have been closer. We hit eight wides in the first half and some of the misses were good opportunities. We are improving with every outing and you could not fault them for lack of endeavour and commitment.

“We also lost players through injury who were doing very well, especially Anthony Brennan and newcomer Mike Carr, while Nicky Quaid had an excellent game.”

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A cross from the right reached man-of-the-match Michael Cussen after only three minutes and he blasted the opening goal. He finished with 1-5, all from play.

Limerick needed a good start and this set them back. But a marvellous point from 40 yards by Nicky Quaid lifted the spirits briefly. But two points by Kieran Murphy and John Gardner (free), had Cork 1-2 to 0-1 up after eight minutes.

Cussen put over another point followed with a second by Murphy to make it 1-4 to 0-1.

By the time Gardner pointed from a 65 Limerick already had six wides.

Cork went on to lead 1-10 to 0-7 at the interval by which stage Limerick’s promising debutant Michael Carr had been stretchered off after 28 minutes with a knee injury.

When Alan O’Connor pointed a free soon after the restart, Limerick hopes briefly rose but then Pat Horgan hit a purple patch from play and frees to move Cork into a 1-14 to 0-8 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

McCarthy introduced Thomas O’Brien from the Patrickswell club and he marked his arrival by waltzing through the Cork defence for a great goal which narrowed the gap to six points.

Cork manager Denis Walsh said afterwards: “I was pleased with our performance. We clocked up a good score.

“Limerick showed great courage and kept battling to the end.”

CORK: M Coleman; S O'Neill, E Cadogan, C O'Sullivan; B Murphy, R Curran, R Ryan; J Gardiner (0-4, two frees, 65), T Kenny; F O'Leary, M O'Sullivan (0-1), G Calinan (0-1); K Murphy (0-2), M Cussen (1-5), P Horgan (0-6, four frees) Subs:C McCarthy (1-1) for O'Leary, (50 mins), A Ó hAilpín for O'Sullivan (56 mins), N McCarthy (0-1) for Calnan (62 mins), M Walsh for Gardner (65 mins), A Ryan for O'Neill (66 mins)

LIMERICK: T Flynn; D Lynch, D Kenny, S O'Neill; L O'Dwyer, A Brennan, M Carr; N Quaid (0-2), P Browne (0-2); B O'Sullivan (0-2), A Owens, C Mullane; G Mulcahy (0-1), P McNamara (0-1), A O'Connor(0-4, frees). Subs:M Deegan for Carr(inj, 31 mins), T O'Brien (Patrickswell) (1-2, one free) for Owens (42 mins), P Harty for Brennan (48 mins), C Hayes for Kenny (50 mins), D Moore for O'Connor (60 mins).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).