Munster Under 17 Football Semi-Final – Cork 5-18 Limerick 1-6

Cork defeated Limerick by 5-18 to 1-6 in the Munster Under 17 Football Competition Semi-Final on Tuesday May 2nd at Pairc Ui Rinn.

Cronin goal spree sends the Rebels on their way to U17 football final

Report by Mark Woods for the Evening Echo Newspaper

Cork 5-18 Limerick 1-6

A hat-trick of Mark Cronin goals decorated Cork’s comfortable Munster U17 football semi-final victory over Limerick at sunny Pairc Ui Rinn last evening.

The young Nemo Rangers star scored twice from the penalty spot with unstoppable shots to either corner and captain Ben Murphy also showed how with a couple of crackers of his own. Cork followed up their 6-24 to 0-1 first-round victory over Waterford in Dungarvan with a 24-point victory here to progress to the inaugural final in a fortnight. They set out their stall from the start with towering midfielder Mark Keane catching the throw-in and soloing through to land the opening point after just 10 seconds.

By the 10th minute the lead had stretched to 1-4 without reply after Cronin expertly tucked away a penalty with a cool, left-footed shot to the right of keeper Cian Walsh after he was fouled himself. Limerick eventually broke their duck with a pointed free from Rory O’Brien moments later but it didn’t disrupt the trend as Cork surged further in front.

Murphy grabbed the second goal after 16 minutes with a neat finish to the far corner after Keane again showed his aerial expertise with another majestic take. And when Jack Murphy extended the advantage to 2-6 to 0-1 with a point three minutes later, it ensured all six starting Cork forwards had managed to get their names on the score sheet. Limerick kept trying, despite facing the inevitable conclusion, with midfielder Barry Coleman landing their fourth point after a fine catch around the middle and subsequent strong run.

But, just when they had thought they had weathered the first-half storm, Cork pounced for a third goal a minute from the interval. Midfielder Neil O’Sullivan dropped a dangerous ball in around the square, where the alert Cronin sensed his opportunity by out-jumping his marker to punch home, leaving Cork well on their way to the final, holding a 3-8 to 0-4 interval advantage.

There was little respite for the visitors on the resumption either with Cork claiming their fourth goal after 34 minutes. Ronan Dalton picked out McMahon with a super pass only for the corner-forward to be fouled by Liam Kennedy and Cronin picked the left corner of Walsh’s net on this occasion.

Despite O’Brien landing Limerick’s sixth point, Cork went on another scoring spree, including a smashing fifth goal from Murphy, whose bullet-like drive nestled in the top corner of the net, 5-12 to 0-6 after 43 minutes. Limerick substitute Liam Wilson found a way through to score a consolation goal, the first Cork conceded, though it was never going to impact on the outcome.

As both sides emptied their benches, Cork finished by claiming the last six points via five different scorers, a Dalton free beginning the sequence, which ended with Murphy’s second point of the evening.

SCORERS: Limerick: Rory O’Brien 0-4, Liam Wilson 1-0, James Cummins and Barry Coleman 0-1 each. Cork: Mark Cronin 3-2 (2-0pen, 0-1 free), Blake Murphy 2-3 (0-1free), Ronan Dalton 0-3 (1free), Mark Keane, Conor McMahon and Jack Murphy 0-2 each, Fionn Herlihy, Killian Murphy, Neil O’Sullivan and Liam Twohig 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Cian Walsh (St Senans); Michael Murphy (St Kierans), Eoin Burke (St Kierans), James Garvey (Mungret St Pauls); Mark Quinlan (Galbally), Michael Ryan (Dromcollogher-Broadford), James Cummins (Galbally); Barry Coleman (Rathkeale), Liam Kennedy (St Kierans); Adam Lacey (Knockaderry), Rory O’Brien (Fr Caseys), Michael Togher Clancy (Claughaun); Aaron Kelly (St Patricks), Matthew Lucey (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Josh O’Connor (Rathkeale). Subs: Oisin Brennan (Newcastle West) for Michael Murphy, inj (15mins), David Aherne (Mungret St Pauls) for James Garvey (h-t), Sean Clancy (Galtee Gaels) for Josh O’Connor (38mins), Liam Wilson (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for Aaron Kelly (43mins), John Leahy (Na Piarsaigh) for Mathew Lucey (52mins).

CORK: Cian Lankford; John Corcoran, Daniel O’Mahony, Eoin Murray; David Lardner, Greg Lardner, Adam Coleman; Mark Keane, Neil O’Sullivan; Fionn Herlihy, Blake Murphy, Jack Murphy; Mark Cronin, Conor McMahon, Ronan Dalton. Subs: Killian Murphy for Adam Coleman (34mins), Conor Crowley for Mark Keane (45mins), Adam Hennessy for Mark Cronin (45mins), Sean Desmond for Daniel O’Mahony (50mins), John Kelleher for David Lardner (53mins), Liam Twohig for Conor McMahon (54mins).

REFEREE: Eamonn Moran (Kerry).

Team News

Cork team for tomorrow's Munster U17 Football Championship Semi-Final has been announced.https://t.co/bmclGGKKtU

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) May 1, 2017

The Cork team to play Limerick in the Munster U17 Football Championship Semi-Final on tomorrow Tuesday 2nd May has been announced as follows –

Cian Lankford – (Kilavullen)
John Corcoran – (Nemo Rangers)
Daniel O Mahony – (Knocknagree)
Eoin Murray – (Dohenys)
David Lardner – (Fermoy)
Greg Lardner (Fermoy)
Adam Coleman – (Nemo Rangers)
Mark Keane – (Mitchelstown)
Neil O Sullivan – (Adrigole)
Fionn Herlihy – (Dohenys)
Blake Murphy – (Na Piarsaigh) – Captain
Jack Murphy – (Eire Óg)
Mark Cronin – (Nemo Rangers)
Conor McMahon – (Kilshannig)
Ronan Dalton – (Nemo Rangers)
Subs
Shane Masterson – (Glanworth)
John Kelleher – (Glanmire)
Killian Murphy – (Glanmire)
Adam Hennessy – (St Michaels)
Liam Twohig – Aghinagh
Conor Crowley – (Glanmire)
Conor Russell – (Douglas)
Eoghan Lehane – (Canovee)
Sean Desmond – (Clondrohid)

Manager: James McCarthy (Castlehaven) – Selectors: Brian Lotty (Glanmire), Ben Flahive (Douglas), Michael Beston (Mitchelstown)

LIMERICK: Cian Walsh (St Senans); Michael Murphy (St Kierans), Eoin Burke (St Kierans), James Garvey (Mungret St Pauls); Mark Quinlan (Galbally), Alan Kiely (Claughaun), James Cummins (Galbally); Barry Coleman (Rathkeale), Liam Kennedy (St Kierans); Adam Lacey (Knockaderry), Rory O’Brien (Fr Caseys), Michael Togher Clancy (Claughaun); Aaron Kelly (St Patricks), Matthew Lucey (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Josh O’Connor (Rathkeale). Subs: Mark White (Rathkeale), Jack Kenny (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Michael Ryan (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Oisín Brennan (Newcastle West), Sean Clancy (Galtee Gaels), Liam Wilson (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), John Leahy (Na Piarsaigh), David Ahearne (Mungret St Pauls).