Limerick come up short against Cork in Munster U20 Hurling Championship:

Limerick come up short against Cork in Munster U20 Hurling Championship:

By Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport

THE LIMERICK U20 hurlers were narrowly defeated by Cork 1-22 to 1-20 in round four of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship on Wednesday evening at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Loftus’ side produced a fantastic second half performance but in the end they just came up short as Cork produced a strong finish to the second half to secure their first win of the Munster Championship.

Limerick senior hurling panelists Hugh Flanagan, Darragh Langan and Sean Casey have been balancing their commitments between the senior and u20 hurling teams this year.

Evan Loftus made two changes from the Limerick side that drew with Waterford in round two. Dara Ferland and Mark O’Brien were introduced onto the Limerick starting XV. Mungret St Paul’s clubman Mark O’Brien earned his first start of the championship having scored 2-3 off the bench in Limerick’s opening two games in the Munster Championship.

Limerick made a blistering to this encounter after 20 seconds. Captain Fintan Fitzgerald pulled on the sliotar inside the small square and his shot was blocked, full forward Donal Coughlan stayed alert to finish the rebound into the back of the net.

Cork replied with two placed balls from Barry Walsh to keep them within touching distance. The home side raced into a four point lead when Dara Ferland and Mark O’Brien added efforts from play. Cork sharpshooter Barry Walsh hit back with two points in-a-row to make it 1-3 to 0-4 after 12 minutes.

In the next seven minutes Limerick struggled to deal with the Cork attack. The Rebels outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-2 in that period. Peter O’Shea, Barry Walsh and Ross O’Sullivan reduced the gap the minimium. On 17 minutes, wing back Ben Walsh played a clever handpass to Cork senior hurling panelist Timmy Wilk and Wilk slotted the sliotar past Limerick goalkeeper Fionn O’Brien.

Barry O’Flynn and Barry Walsh then combined to push Cork 1-9 to 1-5 ahead. Limerick wing forward Robert O’Farrell then got his first score of the evening but O’Farrell’s effort was cancelled out by two more Cork points.

O’Farrell then made the switch into the Limerick full forward line and the Castletroy College student pointed from a difficult angle. Timmy Wilk and Barry Walsh two of Cork’s best performers in the opening period extended their side’s lead before the break. Last year’s Limerick minor hurler Jack Cosgrove responded to make it 1-13 to 1-8 in favour of Cork at the interval.

Cork were able to maintain their lead in the early stages of second half but Limerick to their credit battling away to keep within touch. Limerick’s Fintan Fitzgerald and Mark O’Brien were to the fore. Limerick goalkeeper Fionn O’Brien pulled off a great save from Barry O’Flynn’s shot 43 minutes.

In the next 12 minutes, Limerick enjoyed their most dominant spell of the game outscoring Cork 0-7 to 0-3. Sean Duff, Mark O’Brien, Fintan Fitzgerald, Hugh Flanagan and Robbie O’Farrell were all on target during that spell.

On 55 minutes, Mungret St Paul’s clubman Mark O’Brien put Limerick 1-18 to 1-17 in front. Cork’s Barry Walsh replied to deadlock the sides. Limerick senior star Darragh Langan re-established his side’s lead on 59 minutes.

The victors produced a strong finish in the closing stages of the second half scoring three points from Tommy Wilk, Barry Walsh and Adam O’Sullivan to put them back into the lead. Limerick substitute Darren Frewen narrowed the gap to one point and the hosts were now chasing a draw.

Referee Nicky Barry awarded Cork a free when he judged Darragh Langan to have fouled one of the Cork attackers. Walsh nailed the resulting placed ball and Cork hung on for a victory.

Limerick will now face Clare in the final round of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship next Wednesday April 30 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. A win will secure Limerick’s place into the knockout stages of the Munster Championship.

SCORERS:
LIMERICK: Donal Coughlan 1-0,Mark O’Brien (0-5, 0-4 frees), Fintan Fitzgerald and Robert O’Farrell 0-3 each, Dara Ferland 0-2, , Matthew Fitzgerald, Darren Frewan, Jack Cosgrove, Sean Duff, Hugh Flanagan Darragh Langan and James Finn 0-1 each

CORK: Timmy Wilk 1-2 (0-1 sideline cut), Barry Walsh (0-12, 0-10, frees), Barry O’Flynn 0-2, Finn O’Brien, Peter O’Shea, Mark O’Brien, Adam O’Sullivan and Ross O’Sullivan 0-1 each, Daniel O’Connell (0-1, 0-1 free)

LIMERICK: Fionn O’Brien; John Murray (Patrickswell), Sean Casey (Bruff), Dan Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Jack Cosgrove (Ahane), Aidan O’Connell (Doon), Darragh Langan (Monaleen); Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh); Robert O’Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane); Mark O’Brien (Mungret St Paul’s), Donal Coughlan (Doon), Fintan Fitzgerald (Captain, Mungret St Paul’s).
SUBS: Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul’s) for Coughlan (36 minutes), Diarmuid Hurley for Fitzgerald (40 minutes), Barry Adams (Ballybrown) for Ferland (45 minutes), Darren Frewan (Glenroe) for Finn (51 minutes).

CORK: Daniel O’Connell; Denis Cashman, James O’Brien, Timmy Wilk; Ben Walsh, David O’Leary, Daniel Murnane; Eoin Guinane, Ryan Deasy, John Murphy, Barry O’Flynn, Peter O’Shea; John Wigginton, Ross O’Sullivan, Barry Walsh.

SUBS: Adam O’Sullivan for O’Brien (36 minutes, injury), Mark O’Brien for Wigginton (40 minutes), Finn O’Brien for Ross O’Sullivan (41 minutes), Johnnie Murphy for O’Shea (46 minutes), Dylan McCarthy for John Murphy (57 minutes)

REFEREE: Nicky Barry (Waterford)