Munster Senior Hurling Final – Limerick 0-24 Cork 0-15

Limerick defeated Cork by 0-24 to 0-15 in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday July 14th at Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty

Limerick 0-24 Cork 0-15

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

When Limerick captain Donal O’Grady lifted the Munster SHC Cup at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, such was the almighty deep-throated roar with which it was greeted that those of us still in the overhead gantry could feel a tremor run through the Mackey Stand. A roar of celebration, yes, but also a roar of relief, an end to 17 years of crushing frustration in Munster. Ciarán Carey was the last Limerick captain to lift the same trophy, back in 1996, the year of his famous point against Clare in the semi-final. This one has been a long time coming and despite the fact Cork played the entire second half with just 14 men, boy was it convincing! A tremor surely ran through hurling also because — whisper it — the winds of change are starting to blow. Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway and Cork have been forced to take the low road as Limerick and Dublin, both of whom operating in Division 1B this year, are the new provincial champions. Who would have forecast that at the start of this electric hurling season?

It was another epic Munster final occasion with 42,730 fans crammed into one of the great hurling venues on another sweltering afternoon. Unfortunately it wasn’t an epic contest, nor yet epic hurling. An incident in the final seconds of the first half saw to the former. Cork free-taker and star inside-forward Patrick Horgan red-carded for a careless swing that made contact — albeit light — with the helmet of Paudie O’Brien. Unfortunately for Patrick the dropping ball made simultaneous contact with Paudie’s face leaving the Kilmallock-man prone on the deck. Referee James McGrath initially looked like he was going to do nothing about the incident but then went straight for red. Technically correct but oh-so-harsh. With the game tied at 0-10 each at the break and now facing into the wind, it left Cork with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Mind you that needn’t have been the case and wouldn’t have been the case had the Rebels capitalised on all the opportunities they created in a dominant opening period. It wasn’t just the strong breeze at their backs, though that was a factor, Cork were hurling with far more authority than a nervous-looking home side in that period but hit 10 wides and spurned two good goal-scoring chances. Team captain Pa Cronin led the way for the visitors, as he did all game with two excellent points; Horgan had four (three frees) and was looking very sharp in the left corner while Seamus Harnedy was having another strong outing with two valuable points from the edge of the square.

Limerick meanwhile were relying on free-taker Declan Hannon (five points, four frees) to do most of their scoring though flying corner-forwards Graeme Mulcahy and Seanie Tobin chipped in with a point apiece, powerhouse centre-forward James Ryan, a popular choice as man of the match, with another. Oh but the wides for Cork. All six forwards off target at one stage or another with missed opportunities they would come to rue. Even in the absence of Horgan, for 25 minutes of the second half Cork still managed to almost keep pace with Limerick. It was a time for heroic defence and up stepped Stephen McDonnell, Shane O’Neill and Conor O’Sullivan in the full-back line with wing-backs Tom Kenny and William Egan also doing well.

None was more prominent for Cork in this period though than captain Cronin. Through sheer force of will he dragged Cork back into the game, only two points behind in the 59th minute (0-17 to 0-15). On this day, however, Limerick were not going to be denied. Half-back trio Paudie O’Brien, Wayne McNamara and Gavin O’Mahony threw up the first wall of defence; Stephen Walsh, Richie McCarthy, outstanding again, and Tom Condon closed up shop behind with keeper Nickie Quaid organising everything. Midfielders Paul Browne and captain Donal O’Grady took command and the Limerick points began to flow. Seven in a row they notched to close out a glorious win, subs Shane Dowling (three), Kevin Downes (two) and their former teacher at Árdscoil Rís Niall Moran (one) to the fore. It leaves manager John Allen with a selection dilemma for the All-Ireland semi-final but what a delicious dilemma to have!

Scorers for Limerick: D Hannon (0-8, 5 frees, 1 s/l), J Ryan, S Dowling (0-3 each), G Mulcahy, S Tobin, K Downes (0-2 each), P O’Brien, P Browne, S Hickey, N Moran (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: P Horgan (0-4, 2 frees), S Harnedy, P Cronin (0-3 each), J Coughlan (0-2 frees), L O’Farrell, D Kearney, C Naughton (0-1 each).

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; P O’Brien, W McNamara, G O’Mahony; P Browne, D O’Grady (c); D Breen, J Ryan, S Hickey; G Mulcahy, D Hannon, S Tobin.

Subs for Limerick: S Dowling for Breen (46), C Allis for Mulcahy (52), C King for O’Brien (inj. 58), K Downes for Tobin (65), N Moran for Hickey (69).

CORK: A Nash; S O’Neill, S McDonnell, C O’Sullivan; T Kenny, L McLoughlin, W Egan; C Joyce, D Kearney; C Lehane, C McCarthy, P Cronin (c); L O’Farrell, P Horgan, S Harnedy.

Subs for Cork: J Coughlan for McCarthy (35), C Naughton for Lehane (41), M Cussen for O’Farrell (59), S White for McLoughlin (59).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath)

Limerick end 17-year wait for Munster title

Report from the GAA.ie web site

Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final: Limerick 0-24 Cork 0-15

Limerick claimed their 19th Munster title and their first since 1996 with a comprehensive defeat of Cork at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Sunday. Limerick’s win simply added to the sense that the 2013 championship has been a transformative one, as they joined Leinster champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-finals. “It’s been 17 years and today is the day that it finally comes home,” Limerick captain Donal O’Grady said after accepting the Munster Cup. “The hunger that was there today, I knew and we knew that we would not be beaten.”

After an even first half, the sides were locked at 0-10 apiece at the break, but crucially Cork had Pa Horgan sent off in added time and they played the second half a man down and against the breeze. Limerick started very well and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead early on. They even missed a goal chance through David Breen, who flashed a shot wide of Anthony Nash’s goal. But Cork hit back to move 0-5 to 0-4 ahead and they dominated the second quarter, hitting nine wides and squandering two excellent goal chances in the process. Declan Hannon levelled matters with his fifth score of the afternoon in first half added time to punish Cork’s profligacy, before the Rebels were dealt a huge blow when Horgan was shown a straight red card.

The opening stages of the second half were even enough, but Cork were really struggling when Shane Dowling came off the bench to set up Hannon for a super point, before Dowling himself and then James Ryan added further scores to move the home side 0-17 to 0-12 ahead. Credit to Cork, though, they hit back, with Séamus Harnedy landing his third from play and then Cathal Naughton and Pa Cronin chipped in with scores to reduce the gap to two, 0-17 to 0-15, with 10 minutes remaining. However, Limerick were revitalised by the introduction of Dowling and Kevin Downes off the bench, and they hit seven points in a row in the final 10 minutes to seal a comfortable win. Séamus Hickey started that purple patch, Hannon landed a glorious sideline cut and Dowling and Downes knocked over two points each. Niall Moran, another sub, completed the scoring at the death.

Cork Scorers: D Kearney 0-1, P Horgan 0-4 (0-2f), S Harnedy 0-3, L O’Farrell 0-1, P Cronin 0-3, J Coughlan 0-2 (0-2f), C Naughton 0-1.

Limerick Scorers: P O’Brien 0-1, D Hannon 0-8 (0-5f, 0-1 SL), J Ryan 0-3, G Mulcahy 0-1, P Browne 0-1, S Tobin 0-2, G Mulcahy 0-2, S Hickey 0-1, K Downes 0-2, S Dowling 0-2, N Moran 0-1.

Cork: A Nash; S O’Neill, S McDonnell, C O’Sullivan; T Kenny, C Joyce, W Egan; L McLoughlin, D Kearney; S Harnedy, C McCarthy, P Cronin; L O’Farrell, P Horgan, C Lehane.
Subs: J Coughlan for C McCarthy (HT), C Naughton for C Lehane (43), M Cussen for L O’Farrell (55), S White for L McLoughlin (60).

Limerick: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; P O’Brien, W McNamara, G O’Mahony; P Browne, D O’Grady; D Breen, J Ryan, S Hickey; G Mulcahy, D Hannon, S Tobin.
Subs: S Dowling for D Breen (45), C Allis for G Mulcahy (52), C King for P O’Brien (57), K Downes for S Tobin (65), N Moran for S Hickey (69).

Attendance: 42,730

Team News

The Cork team to play Limerick in Sunday’s Munster Hurling Final at 4pm in Limerick will line out as follows:

1. Anthony Nash

2. Shane O’Neill 3. Stephen McDonnell 4. Conor O Sullivan

5. Tom Kenny 6. Christopher Joyce 7. William Egan

8. Lorcán Mc Loughlin 9. Daniel Kearney

10. Seamus Harnedy 11. Cian Mc Carthy 12. Pa Cronin

13. Luke O’Farrell 14. Patrick Horgan 15. Conor Lehane

16. Darren McCarthy Ballymartle

17. Kilian Murphy Erin’s Own

18. Pa O’Mahony Midleton

19. Colm Spillane Castlelyons

20. Mark Ellis Millstreet

21. Stephen White Ballygarvan

22. Rob O’Shea Carrigaline

23. Cathal Naughton Newtownshandrum

24. Jamie Coughlan Newtownshandrum

25. Stephen Moylan Douglas

26. Michael Cussen Sarsfields

There are two changes in personnel from the team that defeated Clare in the semi-final, and a number of positional switches. Stephen McDonnell moves to full back in place of the injured Brian Murphy, while Shane O’Neill plays corner back. Tom Kenny drops back to the half back line, with Lorcán McLoughlin returning from injury to take his place at mid-field. Cian McCarthy moves to centre forward with captain Pa Cronin fully recovered from illness and named at wing forward. Stephen Moylan drops to the bench, and the full forward line is unchanged.

The Limerick team has also been named: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Stephen Walsh (Glenroe), Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Tom Condon (Knockaderry); Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock), Wayne McNamara (Adare), Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock); Paul Browne (Bruff), Donal O’Grady (capt, Granagh-Ballingarry); David Breen (Na Piarsaigh), James Ryan (Garryspillane), Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher); Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), Declan Hannon (Adare), Seanie Tobin (Murroe-Boher).

Subs: Aaron Murphy (Hospital/Herbertstown), Mark Carmody (Patrickswell), Cathal King (Na Piarsaigh), Alan Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Conor Allis (Croom), Niall Moran (Ahane), Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh), Paudie Aherne (Kilteely/Dromkeen), Tommy Quaid (Effin), Thomas Ryan (South Liberties).

Ticket Details

Both Stands and City End terrace sold out. Clare End Terrace tickets will be available for sale via Munster GAA tickets vans outside the Gaelic Grounds from 12pm on Sunday.

Covered Stand – €35

Uncovered Stand – €30

Terrace €20 (Note – Cork’s terrace allocation is for the Clare End, Limerick’s is for the City End for the Munster Final)

Student / OAP Covered Stand – €25 – pay full price and get a refund of €10 at specified Stiles on the day (on production of valid Student/OAP I.D.)

Student / OAP Unovered Stand – €20 – pay full price and get a refund of €10 at specified Stiles on the day (on production of valid Student/OAP I.D.)

Student / OAP Terrace €15 – pay full price and get a refund of €5 at specified Stiles on the day (on production of valid Student/OAP I.D.)

Family Adult Stand €35 – Juveniles €5

Family Adult Stand €30 – Juveniles €5

Juvenile Groups – Price is €5 per Juvenile with a free Adult with every 10 children. Extra adults pay full price

Adult Group Uncovered Tickets – €25 with a minimum order of 15 tickets per Club

Adult Group Terrace Tickets – €15 with a minimum order of 15 tickets per Club

All Groups must be booked directly with Co Board and tickets will then be allocated for collection by Munster GAA.

This game is expected to be a sell-out.

Match Coverage

This game is being shown live by RTE TV

When – Sunday July 14^th at 4:00pm

Where – Gaelic Grounds Limerick

Referee – James McGrath (Westmeath)
Stand By Referee – Barry Kelly (Westmeath)
Linesman – Brian Gavin (Offaly)
Sideline Official – Pat Casey (Waterford)
Umpires – David Clune, Tom McNicholas, David Hennessy and Johnny Fitzpatrick (all Westmeath)

Next Round – the winners qualify for the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Sunday August 18^th while the losers will play in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final on Sunday July 28^th.

For the Record

Munster GAA HURLING Senior Championship 2013

Quarter-Final

Sunday June 2^nd

@ Semple Stadium Thurles           Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15

Semi-Finals
Sunday June 9^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick           Limerick 1-18 Tipperary 1-15

Sunday June 23^rd

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick           Cork 0-23 Clare 0-15

Final

Sunday July 14^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick           Limerick v Cork @ 4:00pm

Cork v Limerick

Past Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final Meetings

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Finals
Cork vs. Limerick – Past Meetings Breakdown

2013 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Matches played to date

Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15 – June 2^nd @ Semple Stadium Thurles (Munster Quarter-Final)

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Domhnall O’Donovan, David McInerney, Cian Dillon; Brendan Bugler, Patrick Donnellan (Captain), Patrick O’Connor; Colm Galvin, Seadna Morey; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan; Darach Honan, Shane O’Donnell, Conor McGrath

Subs used: Peter Duggan for Morey (29 mins), Padraic Collins for O’Donnell (55), Fergal Lynch for Duggan (68).

Waterford: Ian O’Regan; Darragh Fives, Liam Lawlor, Noel Connors; Jamie Nagle, Michael Walsh, Paudie Prendergast; Shane O’Sullivan, Kevin Moran (Captain); Maurice Shanahan, Seamus Prendergast, Brian O’Halloran; Jamie Barron, Pauric Mahony, Jake Dillon

Subs used: Ray Barry for O’Halloran (17 mins), Gavin O’Brien for Barron (56), Martin O’Neill for Mahony (63)

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)

Limerick 1-18 Tipperary 1-15 – June 9^th @ Gaelic Grounds Limerick (Munster Semi-Final)

Limerick: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, T Condon; P O’Brien, W McNamara, G O’Mahony; P Browne, D O’Grady; S Hickey, D Breen, J Ryan; G Mulcahy, D Hannon, S Tobin.

Subs: C Allis for Breen (42), S Dowling for Hickey (49), N Moran for Tobin (61), C King for Browne (66), K Downes for Ryan (69).

Tipperary: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; K Bergin, C O’Mahony, Pádraic Maher; B Maher, S McGrath; P Bourke, Patrick Maher, J O’Brien; S Bourke, S Callanan, N McGrath.

Subs: J O’Dwyer for S Bourke (half-time), E Kelly for P Bourke (44), B O’Meara for Callanan (49), C O’Brien for S McGrath (64), L Corbett for B Maher (67).

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)

Cork 0-23 Clare 0-15 – June 23^rd @ Gaelic Grounds Limerick (Munster Semi-Final)

Cork: A Nash; S McDonnell, B Murphy, C O’Sullivan; S O’Neill, C Joyce, W Egan; T Kenny, D Kearney; C McCarthy, S Harnedy, C Lehane; P Horgan, L O’Farrell, S Moylan

Subs: J Coughlan for S Moylan (32), P Cronin for C McCarthy (62)

Clare: P Kelly; D O’Donovan, D McInerney, N O’Connell; B Bugler, P Donnellan, P O’Connor; C Dillon, C Galvin; J Conlon, T Kelly, C Ryan; D Honan, P Collins, C McGrath

Subs: A Cunningham for J Conlon (20), F Lynch for C Ryan (43), S Morey for N O’Connell (55), S O’Donnell for C McGrath (60)

Referee – Barry Kelly (Westmeath)

2013 Top Scorers – Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Declan Hannon (Limerick) – 0-9 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65)

Pat Horgan (Cork) – 0-8 (0-5 frees)
Colin Ryan (Clare) – 0-8 (0-7 frees, 0-2 65s)

Maurice Shanahan (Waterford) – 0-7 (0-6 frees)
John O’Dwyer (Tipperary) – 1-3
Jake Dillon (Waterford) – 1-2
Pauric Collins (Clare) – 0-5
Darach Honan (Clare) – 0-5

Tony Kelly (Clare) – 0-5
Conor McGrath (Clare) – 1-2

Sean Tobin (Limerick) – 1-1
Seamus Callanan (Tipperary) – 0-4 (0-4 frees)
Colm Galvin (Clare) – 0-4

Shane O’Donnell (Clare) – 1-1

Donal O’Grady (Limerick) – 0-3
Seamus Harnedy (Cork) – 0-3

John Conlon (Clare) – 0-3

John O’Brien (Tipperary) – 0-3
Shane Dowling (Limerick) – 0-2 (0-1 free)

Luke O’Farrell (Cork) – 0-2
Conor Lehane (Cork) – 0-2
Anthony Nash (Cork) – 0-2 (0-2 frees)
Jamie Coughlan (Cork) – 0-2
Seamus Prendergast (Waterford) – 0-2

Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) – 0-2 (0-1 free)

David Breen (Limerick), James Ryan (Limerick), Niall Moran (Limerick), William Egan (Cork), Pat Cronin (Cork), Daniel Kearney (Cork), Fergal Lynch (Clare), Brendan Maher (Tipperary), Noel McGrath (Tipperary), Pa Bourke (Tipperary), Kevin Moran (Waterford), Jamie Barron (Waterford), Pauric Mahony (Waterford) & Gavin O’Brien (Waterford) – 0-1 each

Useful Information

The 2013 Munster Senior Hurling Final will be the third occasion that Cork and Limerick have met in a Munster Final hosted at a Limerick venue. Cork have won the previous finals in Limerick soil in 1919 and 1975.

Limerick have won just one of their last ten Munster Finals versus Cork dating back to 1944. That sole victory came in the 1980 Final with Limerick winning by 2-14 to 2-10 in Semple Stadium Thurles. Limerick subsequently lost the All-Ireland Final to Galway.

Limerick’s last victory over Cork in a Munster Championship game was on May 27^th 2001 in a Quarter-Final played at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Limerick 1-16 Cork 1-15.

Limerick have won 18 Munster titles with 5 of those victories against Cork. Limerick’s other Munster Senior Hurling titles have come at the expense of Tipperary (6), Clare (5), Waterford (2).

The last time neither Tipperary nor Waterford appeared in the Munster senior hurling final was 1999, when Cork beat Clare by 1-15 to 0-14.

Cork will concede home advantage to their opponents in both Munster Senior Finals. The last occasion this happened was in 2006 when Cork defeated Tipperary in the Hurling Final by 2-14 to 1-14 in Thurles while their Footballers drew with Kerry (0-10 to 0-10) in Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney before winning the replay at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Last Championship meeting – 2010 Munster Semi-Final – Cork 2-19 Limerick 0-12 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Cork: D Og Cusack; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner (0-01), R Curran, S Og O hAilpín; L McLoughlin (0-01), C Naughton (0-01); B O’Connor (0-03, 0-01f), J O’Connor (0-03), N McCarthy (0-05); K Murphy (0-02), A O hAilpin, P Horgan (1-02, 1-00 pen).

Subs used: S Murphy for B Murphy (33 mins), M Cussen for A O hAilpin, P O’Sullivan (1-01) for Horgan (both 49), G Callanan for Naughton (54), R Ryan for S Og O hAilpin (62).

Limerick: T Flynn; S O’Neill, D Breen, K O’Rourke; S O’Riordan, B O’Sullivan, P Browne; T O’Brien (0-06, 0-03f, 0-01 ’65′), A Brennan (0-01, 0-01f); P McNamara (0-01, 0-01f), J O’Brien, S Herlihy; G Mulcahy (0-03), A Owens (0-01), R McKeogh.

Subs used: L O’Dwyer for O’Riordan (24 mins), C Mullane for McNamara, P Russell for McKeogh (both half-time), N Quaid for Brennan (44), A O’Connor for Owens (59).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

The 4 games in the 2012 Munster Senior Hurling Championship produced an average of 40.5 scores per game. There were 43 scores per game in the 2011 Munster SHC as compared to 34 scores per match in the 2010 Munster SHC. The highest scoring game in 2012 yielded 47 scores, the semi-final victory for Tipperary over Cork by 1-22 to 0-24. In the three games this year to date, the average scores per game is 37.

Tipperary’s Pa Bourke was the top scorer in the 2012 Munster Senior Hurling Championship, scoring 1-21 (0-13 from frees and 3 65’s) in 3 matches. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford) finished second with 15 points (10 from frees and 1 65). Noel McGrath was third on the scoring charts with 1-10, all from play while Pat Horgan (Cork) finished fourth with 11 points (9 from frees) from just 1 game.

Limerick and Tipperary have both lost 26 Munster Senior Hurling Finals. Cork have lost 29.

Munster GAA HURLING Senior Championship Roll Of Honour

Cork (50) – 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1912, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006

Tipperary (40) – 1895, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012

Limerick (18) – 1897, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, 1923, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1955, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1994, 1996

Waterford (9) – 1938, 1948, 1957, 1959, 1963, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010

Clare (6) – 1889, 1914, 1932, 1995, 1997, 1998

Kerry (1) – 1891

Munster GAA HURLING Senior Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sh_teams/

Munster Senior HURLING Cup

No Name – Presented by Munster Council in 1928, new cup presented in 1990

All Ireland GAA HURLING Senior Championship

In the Senior Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork are second on the list with 30 titles, 4 behind Kilkenny. Tipperary have won 26 All-Ireland titles. Limerick have 7 titles, their last one in 1973. Clare have won 3 titles in 1914, 1995 and 1997 while Waterford’s two titles came in 1948 and 1959. Kerry won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final in 1891.

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information