Cork 2-17 Limerick 1-21
Peter Casey emerged as Limerick’s hero with two late points to secure the Munster hurling championship at Pairc Ui Chaoimh against reigning champions Cork. The four-in-a-row All Ireland winners from 2020-2023 had trailed from the beginning but kept their opponents within a reasonable distance and had the momentum in their favor in the closing stages.
Casey’s points, in fact, both nudged Limerick ahead, with the Treaty, two points in arrears, having equalled the scoring through a 65 by Diarmaid Byrnes and a follow-up from Gearóid Hegarty. But while Alan Connolly replied to the first Casey score, Cork were spent and could not level again in injury time.
It was even stevens in the early stages with the teams scoring two points apiece, but after 10 minutes Cork edged ahead as Mark Coleman made no mistake with a penalty, drilling his shot past Nickie Quaid.
Limerick got a reply in the 16th minute when Hegarty caught a free from teammate Byrnes that fell short and turned to shoot past Patrick Collins in the Cork goal. It was now 1-4 to 1-3 for the home side.
Limerick manager John Kiely celebrates winning the Munster hurling final. [Inpho/Morgan Treacy]
At the other end, Quaid made a stop that made him a competitor for the man of the match award with his teammate Casey. Thereafter in the half, the Cork men concentrated on tallying up some points and seemed to have an edge with a 1-11 to 1-5 advantage. However before the break the Limerick men got four quick points and it was game on for the second half.
Cork got the first big score of the second with an overhead shot in a seat position from Brian Hayes. That made it 2-12 to 1-10.
Thereafter heroics from both Collins and Quaid kept the game to a battle of free-taking and Limerick overcame their inaccuracy from earlier in the contest to get the better of the home team at the end.
Cork’s fans, it should be said, were unhappy with the officiating of Jesse Owens, who went off to an inevitable chorus of boos. Limerick, however, were delighted to take a win they just about deserved.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Damien Cahalane, Seán O'Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Robert Downey (0-01), Mark Coleman (1-00, 1pen); Tim O'Mahony (0-04, 3 '65, 1f), Tommy O'Connell; Barry Walsh, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy (0-02); William Buckley (0-02), Brian Hayes (1-01), Alan Connolly (0-07, 7f).
Subs: Cormac O'Brien for O'Donoghue (41), Seamus Harnedy for Walsh (65), Hugh O'Connor for O'Connell (71)
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash (0-01), Diarmaid Byrnes (0-03, 2f, 1 '65), William O'Donoghue, Kyle Hayes, Cian Lynch (0-01), Darragh O Donovan, Gearóid Hegarty (1-01), Aidan O'Connor (0-08, 5f, 2 '65), Cathal O'Neill (0-01), Aaron Gillane, Shane O'Brien (0-01), Peter Casey (0-03).
Subs: Tom Morrissey (0-02) for O'Neill (34), Adam English for Gillane (48), David Reidy for O'Brien (66)
Referee: James Owens
GAA Results
Sunday 7 June
Munster SHC final
Cork 2-17 Limerick 1-21,
Pairc Ui Chaoimh -
Ladies All-Ireland SFC
Kerry 2-16 Tipperary 0-4, Austin Stack Park
Mayo 0-12 Dublin 3-12, MacHale Park
Meath 1-9 Galway 2-21, Bective
Saturday 6 June
Leinster SHC final
Galway 4-29 Dublin 4-15, Croke Park
Joe McDonagh Cup final
Laois 1-27 Carlow 1-18, Croke Park
Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final
Fermanagh 3-27 New York 1-13, Brewster Park
Tailteann Cup Round 3
London 0-16 Sligo 2-16, McGovern Park
Leitrim 1-12 Wexford 0-20, Páirc Seán MacDiarmada
Wicklow 1-17 Tipperary 0-12, Echelon Park
Longford 1-14 Down 4-18, Pearse Park
