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2021 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final – Limerick 2-22 Cork 1-17

July 3, 2021 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Limerick defeated Cork by 2-22 to 1-17 in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Saturday July 3rd at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Match Highlights

Munster SHC semi-final: Limerick see off Cork

LIMERICK 2-22 CORK 1-17

Report from GAA.ie

Two goals in first-half injury time were crucial as All-Ireland champions Limerick got their championship campaign off to a winning start in Saturday evening’s Munster SHC semi-final against Cork at Semple Stadium.

As the opening period reached the regulation 35 minutes, the sides were level, Cork with 1-7 to the 0-10 of Limerick, who were back to the full complement after the return of Peter Casey following a sin-binning.

In the three minutes from there to the whistle, Limerick struck two devastating blows. First, the excellent Cian Lynch found the unmarked Darragh O’Donovan, whose goalward shot took a deflection off Seán O’Donoghue and in. In the wake of that, Aaron Gillane’s pass gave roaming wing-back Kyle Hayes a sight of goal and his low shot past Patrick Collins ensured a six-point half-time advantage.

From there, Limerick were able to enjoy a cushion of at least four points throughout the second half, but they will also be thankful to goalkeeper Nickie Quaid for a vital penalty save from Patrick Horgan in the 25th minute, when a second Cork goal would have put them five clear.

Cork must negotiate the qualifiers and, while they can take some positives, equally they will rue such a missed opportunity. Having fallen 0-4 to 0-2 behind in the early stages as Limerick began well, the Rebels hit the front for the first time when Shane Kingston did well to seize a breaking ball and fire a shot to the Limerick net.

A fine Jack O’Connor point just after that left them 1-3 to 0-4 in front at the water-break and, while Limerick had points from Séamus Flanagan and Aaron Gillane after action resumed, Cork replied each time through Séamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan. It looked as if the Rebels would establish a three-point lead when Conor Cahalane was fouled by Casey as he drove towards goal, but the decision of referee Paud O’Dwyer was a penalty and sin-bin. Horgan stepped up with the chance to make it a five-point game but Quaid denied him and Limerick made the most of the let-off despite being 14 against 15.

Just when it looked as if the sides would retire level, the Shannonsiders struck definitively. When Lynch found midfielder O’Donovan in space, he went for goal and was rewarded with a fortuitous deflection off Seán O’Donoghue; then, with their tails up and Cork reeling, Gillane’s pass gave wing-back Hayes an avenue towards goal and he fired past debutant Patrick Collins.

In the first five minutes of the second half, Limerick moved eight clear after superb points from Diarmaid Byrnes and Casey, but Cork refused to wilt and were back to within five after Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn and Horgan all scored in quick succession. However, having scored 18 goals in the league, Cork found it difficult to break down the Limerick defence – the closest they came in the third quarter was an O’Flynn ball to Horgan, well cut out by Seán Finn – and there were still six points separating the sides, 2-16 to 1-13, at the water-break.

Cork had some hope when Darragh Fitzgibbon and Shane Barrett had them within four on the restart, but subsequent chances to eat further into the lead were not taken. Limerick did enough to hold them off and sub Graeme Mulcahy made it 2-18 to 1-6 on 67. While Fitzgibbon replied with his third, Limerick made the game safe with points from the irrepressible Lynch, Byrnes, Casey and sub David Reidy.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-6 frees, Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes (0-1 free), Peter Casey 0-3 each, Darragh O’Donovan, Kyle Hayes 1-0 each, Séamus Flanagan, Gearóid Hegarty 0-2 each, Graeme Mulcahy, William O’Donoghue, David Reidy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-5 frees, Shane Kingston 1-1, Jack O’Connor, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-3 each, Shane Barrett 0-2, Tim O’Mahony, Séamus Harnedy, Robbie O’Flynn 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Richie English, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearóíd Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Séamus Flanagan, Peter Casey.
Subs: Conor Boylan for Tom Morissey (50), Dan Morrissey for Nash (56), Graeme Mulcahy form Flanagan (57), David Reidy for Hegarty (65), Pat Ryan for Gillane (66).

CORK: Patrick Collins; Seán O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Niall O’Leary; Eoin Cadogan, Mark Coleman, Tim O’Mahony; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Ger Millerick; Conor Cahalane, Séamus Harnedy, Robbie O’Flynn; Shane Kingston, Patrick Horgan, Jack O’Connor.
Subs: Shane Barrett for Conor Cahalane (44), Luke Meade for Harnedy (50), Seán O’Leary Hayes for O’Leary (51), Alan Cadogan for O’Flynn (55), Alan Connolly for Kingston (69).

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).

Fixture Details

03.07.2021 (Sat)
Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Semi-Final
Semple Stadium, Thurles 19:00
Corcaigh v Luimneach
Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Ceatharlach)
(E.T. & Winner on the Day)

Ticket Information

With a very limited capacity for this game, tickets are being allocated to the two participating counties to distribute via their members. There will be no public or online sales for this fixture.

Team News

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Richie English, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey

Match Preview

Match Programme

For those attending Saturday’s game, the 48 page match programme will be on sale in Semple Stadium for 5 euro.

Click here to view the Match Programme online

Munster Championship Match Programme Bundles Available

Programme collectors unable to attend matches in the 2021 Munster Champonship will be able to purchase hard copy programmes in one of two bundles – Hurling and Football.
Click for more information

Details

Date:
July 3, 2021
Time:
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Venue

FBD Semple Stadium Thurles

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA