Munster SHC final: Limerick look too far ahead to be caught on this occasion
Limerick v Cork,
TUS Gaelic Grounds,
Saturday, 6pm
If the intrigue surrounding the counties' earlier meeting centred on how convincingly
Limerick
could regain their form of old and how successfully their opponents could iron out troubling inconsistencies in their performances to date, the resolution made tough viewing for
Cork
.
READ MORE
The champions got back within shouting distance of their pomp with as good a display as any since the 2023 All-Ireland. Cork, however, were a ghost of the rampaging unit that had swept to the league title only weeks previously.
For Saturday, the question for Pat Ryan's team is not so much whether they can rediscover the defiance, cuteness and aggression that so bothered Limerick last year but whether they will even be in a position to do so, given injury problems.
Lingering doubts about the sustainability of the champions' explosive performance will have to be addressed. To what extent did they simply unburden the frustrations and resentment at last year's 'drive for five' being unceremoniously derailed?
Such an interpretation – that fury spent, Limerick will revert to the mean of this year's performances – would be wishful thinking.
The scale of their domination was jaw-dropping. From
Nickie Quaid
's laser-guided puck-outs, which never relented – to the ruin of Cork, who frequently did – to the buccaneering Aaron Gillane up front, they were in irresistible form. There is every chance of some drop-off, but will that facilitate a turnaround?
To get where they posed such a formidable challenge, Cork needed an optimal blend of tactics, attitude and personnel. Taking on the champions' half backs took brave puck-outs and a taste for attrition as well as the sharpness of Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly on the inside forward line.
Declan Dalton and Séamus Harnedy did the primary battling but three weeks ago, they managed just 43 minutes between them after the former was taken off injured in the eighth minute and is still missing.
There is further difficulty for them in the reconstituted power of the Limerick half backs. In last year's All-Ireland semi-final, they managed to keep the ball out of Kyle Hayes's orbit, but his switch to centre back, facilitated by the composure and clinical distribution of Barry Nash moving to number seven, restored the formidable platform of the whole line.
Darragh Fitzgibbon needs to get back to the form of last year's All-Ireland semi-final and Cork will have to improve on retrieving fewer than half of their puck-outs.
Cork's Tim O'Mahony and Brian Roche struggle for possession with Cian Lynch of Limerick. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
There are complementary problems at the back. The Downeys were a powerful axis last year and even allowing for a slight downturn this season, the main damage has been Rob's injury. Ciarán Joyce has performed far more effectively on the wing than when operating centrally and with Cian Lynch conjuring on the 40, a solution is needed.
On top of that, the old firm of Gearóid Hegarty and Tom Morrissey were back on the prowl, zipping around and scoring 0-8 from play at wing forward, half of the winning margin.
Lynch, though, is at the heart of the champions' best play.
Manager John Kiely
said in reference to his captain that the best coaching allows for great players' spontaneity.
After the recent victory over Cork, he eulogised: 'I think Cian got the thing off to a really great start with his presence of mind in that first two minutes. He could see it and when the first couple get going, it encourages everybody to follow suit. Our use of the ball was very, very good.'
The other dog that hasn't been barking is Cork's goalscoring.
Gordon Manning compiled on these pages the figures for the season to date
, showing that Pat Ryan's team has outscored their opponents by 27-8 so far. But going into the previous contest three weeks ago, the disparity was the same, 24-5, and still, Limerick outscored them by three goals to one.
Brian Hayes, their chief goal creator, was well marked by Dan Morrissey the last day and Connolly and Pat Horgan struggled to make their own arrangements.
Cork's most pressing anxiety isn't so much that they allowed Limerick such latitude last month but that, for all their fire-breathing, goalscoring of the past 12 months, they have in fact been wearing the emperor's new clothes. Redress is essential.
Verdict
: Limerick
Limerick:
Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Adam English, Will O'Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Aidan O'Connor, David Reidy.
Subs
: Shane Dowling, Peter Casey, Colin Coughlan, Seamus Flanagan, Declan Hannon, Barry Murphy, Shane O'Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Darragh O'Donovan, Patrick O'Donovan, Cathal O'Neill.
Cork:
Patrick Collins; Damien Cahalane, Eoin Downey, Seán O'Donoghue; Cormac O'Brien, Ciarán Joyce, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs
: Brion Saunderson, Niall O'Leary, Rob Downey, Tommy O'Connell, Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade, Shane Kingston, Jack O'Connor, Brian Roche, Robbie O'Flynn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland find their rhythm to overcome Scots in World Cup tune-up
Ireland 27 Scotland 21 Ireland's women tuned up for their looming World Cup tilt with a hard-fought, come-from-behind win against Scotland in Cork on Saturday afternoon. This was about as good as these warm-ups get. Scott Bemand's side was rusty as hell at first but they found their feet and did just about enough to hold off a side that already had a good 80 minutes in the bag from a week before. Captain Sam Monaghan got a good 36 minutes under her belt after 14 months on the sidelines while Eimear Corri-Fallon and Beibhinn Parsons went the full stretch after their own recoveries from injury. Add in three debuts, one off the bench for 19-year old Ailish Quinn, the five tries and a victory and it gives the squad something concrete to build on - and plenty still to work on - before they face Canada in another prepper in Belfast next week. A slow start was no shock. This was their first game in over three months, since they ended their Six Nations with defeat away to the Scots, and only four of the XV that began that match took to the field from the off here in Cork. The visitors had endured their own sluggish opening away to Italy in the first of their warm-ups last week and it showed in a dominant beginning. They were 14-0 to the good early in the second quarter. Centre Lisa Thomson claimed the first try a couple of phases on from a lineout, and it was another throw from touch that saw Lucia Scott run from deep and on a beautiful angle to carve clean through the defence. Thomson converted both. Ireland were hanging on even before those scores on the back of some last-ditch defence – Amee Leigh Costigan claiming a crucial jackal penalty at one point on their own line – and thanks to the cannon that is Dannah O'Brien's boot. Time and again the out-half lifted the siege but Scott Bemand's side needed more. Their efforts to get some rhythm going were undone by dropped balls and some bad decisions when the odd opening did arise. First-capper Ivana Kiripati dropped one of those early balls and gave away a penalty for a high hit, understandable nerves combining with the rustiness of so many weeks without a competitive game no doubt, before settling in. Nancy McGillivray, the other rookie on from the start, saw little of the ball at first as Scotland dominated the first half-hour, but Ireland flipped from rusty to ruthless in what seemed like the blink of an eye. It came after a lengthy delay for attention to Scottish hooker Lana Skeldon who had to be stretchered off after landing awkwardly in a ruck. Minutes later and the hosts were up and running on the back of some belated pressure in the 22. Tighthead Sadbh McGrath did the necessary by touching down after a succession of phases and a handful of obvious Scottish penalties. O'Brien's conversion smacked back off a post but it didn't stall the new momentum. Three minutes later and Meabh Deely scooted over in the right corner after a wonderful team move started by another big run from Grace Moore and, after some more punches through the middle, a succession of slick hands. It could have been better. Ireland pummelled the Scottish line through to the half-time whistle but couldn't cross for a third time, or on their first effort on the restart when Kiripati was held up over the line. McGillivray did claim a third try shortly after, the Exeter Chiefs centre played cleverly into a gap by O'Brien after the forwards had softened up the resistance with a series of pick and goes under the posts. A missed kick left Ireland 17-14 to the good. The Scots were in serious trouble now. Winger Rhona Lloyd got sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on, and the introduction of Ireland's frontline front rows turned the screw at scrum time, but two chances to stretch the lead went begging with infringements in the 22. Scotland made them pay. An error here and a missed chance there and all of a sudden they were playing a game of kick-tennis that stretched the field and made the space for Emma Orr to zig and zag through for a converted try. The Scots were now in front, with Ireland having failed to take advantage of the extra player, but the lead changed hands again 12 minutes from time with big gains from Linda Djougang and Moore opening the door for Niamh O'Dowd to burrow over and leave it 22-21. Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird came up with what proved to be the clincher off a five-metre lineout, the Scottish defence melting away. Enya Breen's conversion rebounding off the post left the door open for Scotland with two minutes to play but the scoring was done. World No.2 Canada are up next and Ireland open their World Cup pool campaign a fortnight later against Japan in Northampton. IRELAND: M Deely; B Parsons, N McGillivray, E Higgins, A-L Costigan; D O'Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe; S McCarthy, C Moloney-MacDonald, S McGrath; E Corri-Fallon, S Monaghan (capt); G Moore, I Kiripati, B Hogan. Replacements: D Nic a Bhaird for Moore (3-14) and for Hogan (60); F Tuite for Monaghan (36); L Djougang for McGrath and N O'Dowd for McCarthy (both 50); E Lane for Scuffil-McCabe and E Breen for O'Brien (both 60); A Quinn for Kiripati and N Jones for Moloney-MacDonald (both 70). SCOTLAND: C Rollie; R Lloyd, E Orr, L Thomson, L Scott; H Ramsay, C Mattinson; A Young, L Skeldon, E Clarke; E Wassell, R Malcolm; R McLachlan, A Stewart, E Gallagher. Replacements: E Martin for Skeldon (32); L Bartlett for Young (HT); L Brebner-Holden for Mattinson (51); M Poolan for Clarke (55); B Blacklock for Ramsey (57); A Ferrie for Wassell and E Donaldson for Malcolm (both 65); C Grant for Brebner-Holden (71). Referee: C Munarini (FIR).
Irish Independent
3 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Ireland's women storm back in thrilling fashion to beat Scotland in World Cup warm-up match
Ireland sent out an impressive opening statement as they overturned a 14-0 deficit to win their first warm-up game with just three weeks to go until their opening game of the Women's Rugby World Cup.
Irish Examiner
32 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Crowley and Hurley give Munster the perfect start at Keady-Tassagh
Wins for Shane Crowley and Emma Hurley gave Munster the perfect start to the All-Ireland series at Keady-Tassagh on Saturday. Crowley's power gave him the edge over Tyrone's Eogan McVeigh in the boys U18 final. Twice he led by close to two bowls, but McVeigh rallied strongly in the final third. It was not enough to derail Crowley who is really maturing in his score management. Emma Hurley was tested too by Ellie-May Carr in the girls U18 final. She took a while to stamp her authority on the score, but once she did, she looked awesome at times. Carr kept pressing down to a brilliant purlicue around the last bend, which put Hurley in a sticky spot. She dealt with that with total calm, with two calculated perfect bowls. Crowley's temperament was put under the microscope from the off as his first bowl was called. He didn't flinch, he responded with an equally good effort. McVeigh beat that by three metres, in what would be his only lead. He was too wide with his next two and found himself a bowl down to Crowley's third. Crowley was close to two ahead after his fifth past Twyman's corner. McVeigh brought the lead under a bowl with a brilliant bowl up Gallogly's height. This became the narrative for much of the score, McVeigh knocking the bowl, Crowley raising it again and threatening to push clear. Crowley was almost two in front again after ten over McGeown's height. McVeigh closed the gap and saw it extend, till he finally got serious traction with a great 16th bowl past McKee's wall. He followed with another good bowl to the bridge. Crowley now had just 58m odds facing up the hill towards the line. McVeigh's gains were squandered when he got a poor shot up the hill. Crowley hit back with a monster bowl that beat the line and gave him victory by a bowl of odds. In the girls U18 final, Carr took the battle to Hurley winning the first three shots. Hurley won her first lead with a great fourth shot over McGeown's height. She pushed her lead out to 50m with her next one, but she could not break clear of a very tenacious Carr. She finally gained a big lead with her ninth past Twynam's cottage. Carr was back in it after her bowl past Twynam's corner. Hurley moved up the gears and raised a bowl at the bus stop. Carr made a valiant effort to turn the tide with a beautifully measured purlicue around the last bend. Hurley closed with two perfectly measured bowls, the first out under the hedge to full light, which kept her lead close to a bowl. She then sent a sizzling bowl down the hill past the line to seal it.
