Sport

Considine bows out with a win

Cork 1-20 Limerick 2-16: THE CROWDS swarmed around their Cork heroes at Páirc Uí Chaoimh after an injury-time point from substitute…

Mon Mar 30 2009 - 01:00

Cork 1-20 Limerick 2-16:THE CROWDS swarmed around their Cork heroes at Páirc Uí Chaoimh after an injury-time point from substitute Neil Ronan made it two wins out of two for this group of hurlers

Ronan’s point ensured Cork are virtually assured of maintaining their status in Division One. Meanwhile, Limerick manager Justin McCarthy called for the yellow-card rule to be abolished, despite his side’s valiant display.

Cards to Brian Geary and Denis Moloney were costly for Limerick, yet McCarthy’s charges had a glorious chance to take the spoils before Ronan’s effort, but Wayne McNamara’s attempt fell short.

The visitors gave as good as they got and a draw would have been a fitting result. Leading 2-16 to 1-15 with 10 minutes remaining, the Shannonsiders appeared to have the fitness. But four unanswered Cork points achieved parity before the Ballyhea man Ronan fired over the winner.

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This marked John Considine’s last game before Denis Walsh takes over. The new boss is expected to announce his backroom team today. Cork face a trip to Nowlan Park at the weekend.

A lot of the attention was on Cork wing forwards Ben and Jerry O’Connor in the opening half – Jerry breaking through for a brilliant goal on two minutes. Tom Kenny was another driving force for Cork.

Niall Moran was the top man for Limerick, striking six of their first-half points.

Before a vocal attendance of 4,574 the visitors went in at the break leading by 1-11 to 1-9 – their goal arriving on 24 minutes after Andrew O’Shaughnessy’s splendid cross was first-timed to the net by Pat Tobin.

Cork rejigged their attack for the second half, but not until the 50th minute did they draw level, through Tadhg Óg Murphy, who made it 1-15 apiece.

Seamus Hickey, now at half back, thundered into the game and when Donal O’Grady took a pass from O’Shaughnessy and fired a rasping shot to the net, Limerick were looking good.

These Rebels won’t give in though. Four points from Ben O’Connor (two frees), substitutes Patrick Cronin and Óg Murphy drew the sides level again. Limerick, who play Waterford next, had their chance, but it was Ronan who stole the show in the end.

CORK: D Óg Cusack; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, C O’Sullivan; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny (0-3), C Naughton (0-2); B O’Connor 0-7 (six frees), K Murphy (Erins Own) (0-1), J O’Connor (1-2); P Horgan, K Murphy (Sarsfields) (0-1), P O’Sullivan. Subs: C McGann for Ó hAilpín (29 minutes inj), T Óg Murphy (0-2) for P O’Sullivan (47 minutes), P Cronin (0-1) for K Murphy (Sarsfields 49 minutes inj), N Ronan (0-1)for C Naughton (60).

LIMERICK: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, M O’Riordan (0-1); G O’Mahony, B Geary, S Walsh; D O’Grady (1-1), S Hickey (0-1); P Browne, J Ryan (0-1); N Moran (0-9 five frees, one 65, one sl), A O’Shaughnessy (0-1), D Breen, P Tobin (1-1).

Subs: D Moloney for G O’Mahony (25 minutes), W McNamara for B Geary (yellow, 49 minutes), G Mulcahy for P Tobin (54 minutes), T Condon for D Moloney (yellow, 60 minutes), R McCarthy (0-1) for D Breen (65 minutes), D Ryan for P Browne (70 minutes).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).