Munster MHC semi-final: Limerick hang on to edge out Cork

LIMERICK 0-23 CORK 2-15

Limerick held on in dramatic manner in the Munster minor hurling championship semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds last night.

With two minutes of added time almost up, Cork were awarded a free 25 yards out. Goalkeeper Patrick Collins let fly for goal but was denied by Limerick goalkeeper Eoghan McNamara who had earlier made two great saves, one from a penalty.

They were level five times in a first half which lasted 39 minutes due to lengthy stoppages for injuries to two Cork players.

Limerick managed only five points from play in the first half but were helped by the accuracy of Colin Ryan whose five frees kept his side in contention after Cork grabbed a lead goal after 31 minutes. A long free out of defence by Alan O’Callaghan was touched on by Seán Hayes to Shane Kingston who blasted past Eoghan McNamara.

Limerick scored nine points without reply – five of them inside ten minutes of the restart with Thomas Morrissey getting three in as many minutes.

These scores helped Limerick into a 0-16 to 1-9 lead and with ten minutes remaining it was 0-20 to 1-12.

Limerick pushed on and with two minutes remaining they led 0-23 to 1-15 when Cork grabbed a second goal from Kingston to set up the dramatic finale.

LIMERICK: E McNamara; S Finn, P O’Loughlin, J Porter; A La Touche-Cosgrave, R Lynch (0-3, fs), L Lyons; T Grimes, C Rya n (0-7, 6fs); S Flanagan (0-2), B Nash, C Lynch (0-1) ; P Casey (0-2), T Morrissey (0-5), C Fitzgerald (0-2). Subs: R Hanley (0-1) for Porter (33), E Doyle for Grimes (40), A Gillane for Flanagan (58). CORK: P Collins; C Walsh, S Bourke, S O’Regan; D Browne, A O’Callaghan (0-3, 2fs, 1 45), O Dempsey; S O’Donoghue, D Meaney; L Meade, D Lee (1-3), S Kingston (1-3); D Casey (0-2), S Hayes (0-3, fs), E Keniry. Subs: D Dooling for O’Regan (7), J Good for Casey (19), J Looney for Dempsey 39, T O’Connor (0-1) for Good (50), M Dolan for Keniry (53). Referee: Paul Foley (Waterford).