Munster GAA Junior Football Championship Semi-Final – Cork 0-15 Limerick 0-13

Cork defeated Limerick by 0-15 to 0-13 in the Munster GAA Junior Football Championship Semi-Final on Saturday June 21st at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

McCarthy relieved as Rebels edge brave Limerick

By Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cork 0-15 Limerick 0-13

All-Ireland junior champions Cork opened their Munster title defence with victory over Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

It was not always comfortable for the hosts, however, as they saw a five-point half-time lead reduced by the John Mullane-inspired visitors.

However Cork held out, to the delight of manager Paul McCarthy, who was unable to choose any of last year’s successful side.

“We made hard work it, but a lot of it was because that it was our first outing together. In previous years, a lot of the players would have played together but this bunch never had, apart from challenge matches.

“We’d be hoping they’d grow and develop and the win will give us confidence. We’ll be underdogs in the Munster final but that’ll suit us.”

Despite Mullane opening the scoring with a free in the third minute, it was the only time Limerick led and Cork soon took control, with Fionn O’Shea and James Kind on top at midfield. Paul Condon, Mark Sugrue and Conor Flanagan were among those to impress as Cork raced into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead. Limerick’s scoring drought was ended when Andy Murphy pointed — though a goal was on — but by half-time, Cork were 0-10 to 0-5 ahead.

Three points from Mullane after the restart were only answered by a Paul Condon free. Flanagan’s booming free in the 43rd minute made it 0-12 to 0-8 and while Mullane responded with a 45, Condon converted another excellent dead ball on 49, followed by points from Mark Sugrue and Flanagan to make it 0-15 to 0-9.

They wouldn’t score again, Mullane — Limerick’s only second-half scorer — with four in a row in the closing stages, but Cork had done enough.

Scorers for Cork: P Condon 0-6 (three frees), C Flanagan 0-4 (frees), S Hickey, M Sugrue (one free) 0-2 each, S Beston 0-1.

Scorers for Limerick: J Mullane 0-10 (five frees, one 45), J Mullins, A Murphy, P Nash 0-1 each.

CORK: P Kirby; J McLoughlin, S Murphy, M O’Shea; N McCarthy, J Daly, B Weathers; F O’Shea, J Kind; C Flanagan, B Coughlan, M Sugrue; S Beston, P Condon, S Hickey.
Subs: J Dineen for O’Shea (48), D Pyne for Coughlan (52), R Buckley for Daly (56), A O’Connor for Beston (58), C Brosnan for Kind (60).

LIMERICK: G Neville; K Brosnan, W Cronin, M Phelan; C Sheehan, P Mullins, T McCarthy; T Butler, C Madden; J Millins, P Nash, J Mullane; A Murphy, M Fitzgibbon, M O’Sullivan.
Subs: E O’Donnell for Murphy (half-time), B Hannigan for Brosnan (46), M O’Sullivan for Sheehan (50), M Geary for O’Sullivan (53), E O’Donoghue for Mullins (59).

Referee: D Grogan (Tipperary)

Cork hold off Limerick to book place in Munster junior football final

Cork 0-15 Limerick 0-13

Report from thescore.ie

CORK HAD TO withstand a second-half fightback from Limerick before prevailing in this evening’s Munster junior football semi-final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. John Mullane, who has plenty senior experience with Limerick in recent years, inspired their second-half revival with some brilliant point-taking as they cut the gap to two points in a frantic finale. Cork did enough to hold and reach the final where they will play the winners of tomorrow’s game between Kerry and Clare in Ennis.

Cork were All-Ireland champions at this level last year and thus had to field a completely new side. But they started brightly to be in front by 0-7 to 0-2 after twenty minutes and held a 0-10 to 0-5 advantage at the interval. Limerick reduced the deficit to three points during the second-half before Cork upped the ante again and were 0-14 to 0-9 clear with ten minutes remaining.

Limerick rallied strongly in the closing stages but Cork’s attackers had put enough on the board. Full-forward Paul Condon finished with 0-6 while Brian Coughlan, Mark Sugrue and Shane Beston – who all have recent U21 inter-county experience – caught they eye in their offensive play as well.

Scorers for Cork: Paul Condon 0-6 (0-3f), Conor Flanagan 0-3 (0-1f), Mark Sugrue (0-1 ’45), Shane Beston (0-1f), Seamus Hickey 0-2 each.Scorers for Limerick: John Mullane 0-9 (0-5f), Peter Nash, Jason Mullins, Andy Murphy 0-1 each.

CORK
1. Pat Kirby (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
2. John McLoughlin (Kanturk)
3. Sean Murphy (Ballydesmond)
4. Matthew O’Shea (Glengarriff)
5. Niall McCarthy (Kinsale)
6. Jeffrey Daly (Fermoy)
7. Brendan Withers (Lyre)
8. Fionn O’Shea (Clyda Rovers)
9. James Kind (Passage)
10. Conor Flanagan (Passaage)
11. Brian Coughlan (Kinsale)
12. Mark Sugrue (Bandon)
13. Shane Beston (Mitchelstown)
14. Paul Condon (Mayfield)
15. Seamus Hickey (Rockchapel)
Subs
22. John Dineen (Eire Og) for O’Shea (47)
24. Dave Pyne (Glanworth) for Coughlan (51)
18. Rory Buckley (Macroom) for Daly (56)
21. Anthony O’Connor (Knocknagree) for Beston (57)
20. Cillian Brosnan (Brian Dillons) for Kind (59)

LIMERICK
1. Gary Neville (St Patrick’s)
2. Mark Phelan (St Patrick’s)
3. Wayne Cronin (St Patrick’s)
4. Kevin Brosnan (Monagea)
5. Tony McCarthy (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
6. Pa Mullins (St Patrick’s)
16. Conor Sheehan (Cappamore)
8. Thomas Butler (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
9. Colin Madden (Bruff)
17. Andy Murphy (Cappamore)
11. Peter Nash (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
12. John Mullane (St Patrick’s)
13. Jason Mullins (St Patrick’s)
14. Mike Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh Castlemahon)
15. Mark O’Sullivan (St Mary’s Sean Finns)
Subs
20. Bryan Hannigan (Feenagh Kilmeedy) for Brosnan (46)
23. Michael Geary (St Patrick’s) for O’Sullivan (53)
19. Eoin O’Donoghue (Cappamore) for Mullins (58)

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary)

Team News

Cork Junior Football team to play Limerick on Sunday: http://t.co/5WWHBEbynv

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) June 19, 2014

The Cork Junior Football team to play Limerick in the Munster Semi-Final on Saturday will line out as follows:

1. Patrick Kirby (Tadgh MacCarthaigh)
2. John McLoughlin (Kanturk – Captain)
3. Sean Murphy (Ballydesmond)
4. Mathew O’Shea (Glengarrif)
5. Niall McCarthy (Kinsale)
6. Jeffrey Daly (Fermoy)
7. Brendan Withers (Lyre)
8. Fionn O’ Shea (Clyda Rovers)
9. James Kind (Passage)
10. Conor Flanagan (Clyda Rovers)
11. Brian Coughlan (Kinsale)
12. Mark Sugrue (Bandon)
13. Shane Beston (Mitchelstown)
14. Paul Condon (Mayfield)
15. Seamus Hickey (Rockchapel)

Subs
16. Anthony Casey (Kiskeam)
17. Conor O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers)
18. Rory Buckley (Macroom)
19. Fionn Herlihy (Mitchelstown)
20. Cillian Brosnan (Brian Dillons)
21. Anthony O’ Connor (Knocknagree)
22. John Dineen (Eire Og)
23. Kevin Sheehan (Mallow)
24. Dave Pyne (Glanworth)

Having won the 2013 All-Ireland title, Paul McCarthy and his selectors were obliged to start with a new team this year, as players who played in last year’s All-Ireland Final, whether as starting players or subs, were ineligible to play this year.

Limerick Manager Diarmuid Sheehy has named his starting team for the Munster Junior Football semi-final V Cork on 21st June in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 5.00pm.

Limerick Junior Football Team V Cork on 21st June 2014.
1. Gary Neville St Patricks
2. Mark Phelan St Patricks
3. Wayne Cronin St Patricks
4. Kevin Brosnan Monagea
5. Tony McCarthy Kildimo Pallaskenry
6. Pa Mullins St. Patricks
7. Paul Whyte St. Marys/Sean Finns
8. Thomas Butler Feoghnagh Castlemahon
9. Colin Madden Bruff
10. Keith Hartnett St. Marys/Sean Finns
11. Peter Nash Kildimo Pallaskenry)
12. John Mullane St Patricks
13. Jason Mullins St Patricks
14. Mike Fitzgibbon Feoghnagh Castlemahon
15. Mark O’ Sullivan St. Marys/Sean Finns
16. Conor Sheehan Cappamore
17. Andy Murphy Cappamore
18. Brian O’ Leary Knockane
19. Eoin O’ Donoghue Cappamore
20. Bryan Hannigan Feenagh Kilmeedy
21. Eoin O’ Donnell St. Marys/Sean Finns
22. Michael O’Sullivan Dromcollogher/ Broadford
23. Michael Geary St Patricks

Management; Diarmuid Sheehy- Cappamore(Manager), Selector; Moss Mc Carthy Dromcollogher/ Broadford; Laison Officer; Pat O’Shaughnessey