Co-Op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League

CORK 0-20 LIMERICK 1-16

Brian Hayes scored the winner as Cork scored five of the last six points to overcome Limerick at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday to top Group 2 of the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League.

Victory means that Pat Ryan’s side advance to next weekend’s final against Tipperary and, while the make-up of the teams will be much different for the Allianz Hurling League opener in three weeks’ time and different again for the counties’ Munster SHC meeting, the Rebels boss will be pleased with the attitude shown.

Having had the better of the first half, Cork retired leading by just a point and then found themselves penned back by a resurgent Limerick on the resumption. A burst of five unanswered points from the Shannonsiders – three David Reidy frees and scores from Barry Murphy and Oisin O’Reilly – moved them 1-14 to 0-13 ahead by the 47th minute, but Cork refused to wilt.

Hayes twice went close to goals, having one shot blocked and the other saved by David McCarthy while Conor Lehane was excellent from frees throughout for the Rebels and three from him – one from play – levelled at 0-18 to 1-15 with five minutes of normal time left.

Limerick sub Conor O’Grady put them back in front but it proved to be their final point. After Reidy passed up a chance to make the lead two points, Lehane levelled with his 12th but the Treatymen wasted two more opportunities, through Tom Morrissey and Shane O’Brien, their 13th and 14th wides of the match.

Hayes did well to generate his chance and take it in the 74th minute, but there was still time for Limerick to earn a draw – however, O’Grady was off-target and Cork took the win. It means that Tuesday’s meeting of Kerry and Limerick in Austin Stack Park in Tralee will merely determine second place in the group.

Cork led by 0-4 to 0-1 early on as Limerick’s travails in front of goals got an early airing, but the game turned in the space of two first-half minutes as a point from O’Brien – their brightest attacker – was followed by a fortuitous goal. Midfielder Darragh O’Donovan was looking to pick out O’Reilly with his delivery but the ball finished in the net and Limerick were 1-2 to 0-4 ahead.

Cork came back strongly, with Ciarán Joyce impressive at centre-back, but though they moved 0-8 to 1-2 in front, Limerick couldn’t be shaken off. Points from Aidan O’Connor and Reidy had the game level, 0-10 to 1-7, in injury time at the end of the first half but Conor Lehane’s fifth point ensured the Rebels were a point in front at the break. It would be the same at the end.

Scorers for Cork: Conor Lehane 0-12 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65), Cormac Beausang, Brian Hayes 0-2 each, Luke Meade, Shane Barrett, Conor Cahalane, Brian O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: David Reidy 0-9f, Darragh O’Donovan 1-0, Shane O’Brien, Aidan O’Connor 0-2 each, Oisín O’Reilly, Barry Murphy, Conor O’Grady 0-1 each.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Conor O’Callaghan, Robert Downey, Seán O’Donoghue; Cathal Cormack, Ciarán Joyce, Cormac O’Brien; Tommy O’Connell, Brian O’Sullivan; Conor Cahalane, Conor Lehane, Luke Meade; Cormac Beausang, Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett. Subs: Sam Quirke for O’Sullivan (half-time), Patrick Horgan for Meade, Brian Roche for Cahalane, Declan Dalton for Barrett (57), Colin Walsh for O’Connell (62), Eoin Downey for Quirke (64, injured).

LIMERICK: David McCarthy; Richie English, Fergus O’Connor, Aaron Costello; Mark Quinlan, Dan Morrissey, Ciarán Barry; Darragh O’Donovan, Robbie Hanley; Aidan O’Connor, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey; Shane O’Brien, Barry Murphy, Oisín O’Reilly. Subs: Rory Duff for Hanley, Micheál Houlihan for O’Connor (both 53), Ronan Connolly for Barry (57), Jimmy Quilty for O’Connor, Darren O’Connell for O’Reilly (both 62), Conor O’Grady for O’Donovan (64).

Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare).