McGrath Cup/ Cork 1-8 Limerick 0-7: A well-taken goal on the call of half-time helped Cork retain the McGrath Cup in their championship dress rehearsal with Limerick at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Kevin McMahon pounced in the final act after combining superbly with Kevin O'Sullivan to help Cork to a 1-5 to 0-3 lead, having been 0-4 to 0-0 in front inside 11 minutes.

Cork's advantage would have been greater but for glaring misses by Anthony Lynch and O'Sullivan before McMahon showed how and it took a great save by goalkeeper Seán Kiely to deny him a second goal early in the second half.

Limerick stayed in touch thanks to the free-taking of Michael Reidy and Cork were only assured of winning when defender Noel O'Leary swept forward to kick the final point four minutes from the end.

CORK: P O'Shea; M Prout, D Coughlan, K O'Connor (0-1); N O'Leary (0-1), E Cadogan, A Lynch (0-1); D Hurley, P O'Neill; S O'Brien, S O'Sullivan, K McMahon (1-2); K O'Sullivan (0-1), A Cronin (capt), D O'Connor (0-2, frees). Subs: B Collins for O'Brien (35 mins); D Mehigan for S O'Sullivan (54 mins).

LIMERICK: S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; B Fitzpatrick, P Ahern, P Ranahan; T Cahill (0-1), J Galvin (capt); S Cronin, D Horan, J Cooke (0-1); M Crowley, J Stokes, M Reidy (0-5, four frees). Subs: P Browne for Fitzpatrick, S Buckley for Crowley (both half-time); N Mulvihill for Cronin (51 mins).

Referee: P Sheehy(Kerry).