Cork back in action last night.

[AZOffaly]

Cork beat Limerick by 10 points  last night in Newtownshandrum in a challenge match. No word on whether they were applauded out with a guard of honour though.

From d'Paper.

***********

Rebels get back in the groove

By Brendan Larkin
Cork 1-25 Limerick 0-18
CLEARLY starved of hurling, over 3,000 spectators crammed into the splendid Newtownshandrum venue last night to see Cork inflict a 10-point defeat on Limerick in a keenly contested challenge game.


Both sides fielded under-strength teams but it was the more established players who brightened the damp night.

John Gardiner was excellent in the heart of the Cork defence and finished the game with four long range points from placed balls. Cian O'Connor and Ciaran McGann were other defenders to do well.

Jason Barrett did nothing wrong at midfield and contributed three points, all from play, to his side's tally. Niall McCarthy had a good hour on Paudie O'Dwyer who gave very little away while scoring five points for the Shannonsiders.

Pat Horgan showed some lively touches at corner forward for Cork while Niall Ronan scored the game's only goal and also landed three excellent points.

Limerick matched Cork score for score in the opening half and two evenly matched sides were level nine times in that period. Looking extremely sharp, the visitors were denied a goal by an alert Donal Óg Cusack, who saved well from Sean O'Connor. O'Connor had a great tussle with Diarmuid O'Sullivan but it was only when the Cork full back went off injured that he really blossomed.

Damien Reale, Stephen Lucey and Mark Foley were rock solid in the Limerick defence; Donal O'Grady had his moments at midfield while Donie Ryan and Pat Tobin did well in attack.

After the sides were level at 0-12 each Cork finished the half strongly to lead by two at the break, and it got better for them on the changeover as they rifled over three-in-a-row to finally put some daylight between the teams.

Mike Fitzgerald pegged Cork back with a brace of points from frees before the hugely impressive Mark Foley landed the best score of the night on 45 minutes. However Cork's better stickwork became more evident as the game wore on and after taking a four-point lead, Niall Ronan grabbed the game's only goal when he touched home Adrian Mannix's delivery. There was only going to be one outcome after that.

Both teams opted to use the bench and the game lost much of its edge for the last 15 minutes, but the huge following got a good 40 minutes of highly competitive hurling to whet the appetite for more.

Scorers for Cork: N. Ronan 1-3; J. Gardiner (0-3 frees, 0-1 65), P. Horgan (0-2 frees) 0-4 each; J. Barrett, C. Naughton, 0-3 each; K. Murphy, N. McCarthy, K. Canty 0-2 each; B. Corry, P. Cronin 0-1 each.

Limerick: P. O'Dwyer 0-5 (0-2 frees, 0-2 65s); S. O'Connor 0-3; M. Foley, P. Tobin, D. Ryan, M. Fitzgerald (frees) 0-2 each; M. O'Brien, K. Tobin 0-1 each.

CORK: D. Óg Cusack; S. White (Ballygarvan), D. O'Sullivan, C. O'Connor; P. Kelly, J. Gardiner, C. McGann (Castlelyons); J. Barrett (Carrigtwohill), K. Murphy (Erins Own); P. Cronin, N. McCarthy, C. Naughton; P. Horgan (Glen Rovers), B. Corry (Ballymartle), N. Ronan.

Subs used: M. Coleman, S. Farrell (Carrigtwohill), E. Cadogan (Douglas), G. Callinan, A. Mannix (Kilworth), SD. Dineen (Ballymartle), K. Canty (Valley Rovers).

LIMERICK: B. Murray; D. Reale, S. Lucey, D. Clancy; D. Cosgrove, P. O'Dwyer, M. Foley; D. O'Grady, N. Moran; M. Fitzgerald, M. O'Brien, S. Lavin; D. Ryan, S. O'Connor, P. Tobin.

Subs used: B. Begley, B. Foley, M. Fitzgerald, K. Tobin.

Referee: A. Cummins (Ballymartle).

[orangeman]

Cork will win the AI if this result is anything to go by !

[dodo]

Cork took the points today in Parnell Park against an unlucky Dublin team who started well with the wind behind them. The Dubs lead 1-12 to 1-06 at half time, but Cork started to get more into their stride as the game wore on. With about 10 minutes to go the teams were level and all to play for. Tom Kenny was getting more and more into the game at midfield and John Gardiner was dominating across the half back line. Gardiner pointed a 65 followed by 2 further points to give the langers a 3 point cushion, the Dubs got a point back and then handed Langer Ronan another goal.........game over !
The langers will be delighted with the points as they were without the twins O'Connor, Langer óg ó hAilpín, Joe Deane, srl.
Beware the langers !
Dotsy did very well at number 13 for the Dubs, looked very lively but the Dubs couldn't get enough ball into him at the end. He set up a great finish for the sub (number 21   Peter Kelly ?).

[INDIANA]

dublin fecked that game away. conceded 3 goals that will be on you've been framed soon. Missed another opener as well. Really was a game dublin should have won. Lack of cuteness and experience unfortunately- just we've so many young players playing together that these things do happen unfortunately but to say we're gutted is an understatement.

[Sky Blue]

That one was there for the talking no doubt about it. If you were colour blind you would have thought the Dubs were Cork and vis versa in the first half. Cuteness cost us in the end but I liked they way they fought to the end and after the soft goals the heads didn't go down. Some hope for the future but Cork won't be as bad again.

[orangeman]

Cuteness cost us in the end


Cute Cork hoors !!! 

[timmykelleher]

Cork will not win the AI if this result the first half is anything to go by !!

Just watched the highlights on RTE last night.
Looked like we were in for a real trouncing in the first half.

How much of a factor was the wind?

Looking at Cork's 3 goals you'd have to agree with Gerald that we were flattered with a five point win (or a win of any amount!!)

Someone mentioned that the Cork sub's made a difference... who came on?

The Cork corner backs looked to be getting a roasting. this was a big problem last year and it looks like it hasn't been solved.

[Pull Hard Hes No Relation]

Was caught in two minds about attending this game or the Down V Meath clash and opted for the latter in the end as I taped the Cork game. Would agree with most of the posters here that Dublin were very unlucky and Cork looked extremely rusty.

All the Cork goals were of the scappy variety and that is bound to be disappointing from a Dublin point of view but in fairness they showed a lot more bite up front that appeared to be the case V the Cats not sure if that says more about Cork's defence than the Dublin attack???

Full back line was the real issue for Cork last year conceding a significant number of goals, indeed the five conceded V Waterford in the Munster semi was more than they had conceded for the whole of 2006. The chopping and changing within the back line throughout the Championship didn't help to get a settled side and Gerard needs to sort that quickly prior to Championship. Personal opinion here but I'd like to see Wayne Sherlock back in the fold as I beleive he is still one of the best corner backs in the country. Good to see the Rebels back to winning ways and expect that to continue next week against Antrim before their final game in the Pairc against Wexford.

As for the Dubs genuinely beleive they are going to stay up and expect them to beat Wexford next week, as I believe that Wexford were very poor against both Antrim and Kilkenny while the Dubs have posted good-solid performnaces in all their matches thus far. No disrespect to Wexford but Dublin staying in Division 1 of the NHL is more important to hurling long term development than Wexford staying up and maintaining the status quo of top tier teams.

[feetofflames]

Well, some would see Cork are back doing what they do best.  With the minimum of effort they garner maximum impact.  When all is said and done there are certain things that Cork do better than most others, showing the neccessary aggression, togetherness and steel and they let nothing get in their way  and now that they are back in typical Cork action the question is will the Sigerson cup final 2008 ever be played?   

[INDIANA]

tom kenny was the difference yesterday-amid all the fanfare of other cork players- i don't think the  guy gets the credit he deserves- he's an exceptional player.

[slow corner back]

Absolutely agree Indiana about Tom Kenny the guy is pure class, his scoring rate from midfield is unreal

[Minder]

The most impressive thing about Kenny is when he is running with the ball he seems to be going at about 80% but is continually pulling away from the player chasing him, some athlete.