Cork 3-13

J Kavanagh 1-3; P Clifford 0-3 (two frees); K Daly, P O'Mahony 1-0 each; C O'Sullivan 0-2 (free, sideline); D Davis, A Dorgan, S O'Brien, N Murphy, B Collins 0-1 each.

Limerick 2-8

C Hickey 2-3 (two frees); D Reidy 0-2 (one free); P Ahearn 0-2; J Galvin 0-1 (free).

Referee: H Beirne (Roscommon).

Limerick provided last season's defeated All-Ireland finalists Cork with a timely wake-up call in a tension-packed, highly-competitive Munster championship first-round game before an estimated crowd of 7,000 at Kilmallock on Saturday.

The home side, who were out the injured Brian Begley, led three times in a first half which ended 2-3 to 0-9. Former county hurler Colm Hickey had scored both goals for Limerick

Limerick fell five points behind early in the second half: Cork's Bernard Collins pointed soon after the restart, Joe Kavanagh goaled and Don Davis added a point. But Cork went scoreless for 20 minutes as Limerick chipped away at their lead and found themselves just one point in arrears entering the final quarter.

Cork, who were without Colin Corkery, found inspiration in the shape of secondhalf substitutes Podsie O'Mahony and Kieran Daly, who delivered two killer blows with goals. Cork boss Larry Tompkins, who handed over responsibility on the night to Tony Nation, acknowledged that Cork had been let off the hook.

"We under-performed in many positions. In the second half we were forced into making five substitutions and had the rules allowed we would have made another five."

His opposite number, Kerryman Liam Kearns, said the pity was the record books would show that Limerick lost by eight points. "The 7,000 or 8,000 who were here in Kilmallock will testify that we were not an inferior side to Cork".

Having walked a tightrope, Cork clearly have some sorting out to do before they square up to Kerry on June 18th, a point acknowledged by their manager.

Limerick's direct approach, with midfielders John Galvin and John Quane testing opposite numbers Nicholas Murphy and Michael O'Sullivan, caused numerous headaches for Cork. The Cork full-back line of Michael O'Donovan, Donagh Wiseman and Sean Og O hAilpin had a torrid time.

The highly-rated O'Donovan found the pacey Colm Hickey, who ended with two goals and three points, too hot to handle as did Wiseman when he switched over to mark him.

Cork looked to the powerful Nicholas Murphy and vigilant Joe Kavanagh to lift their challenge and they were willing to oblige.

Limerick were in front 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes but then Cork hit a purple patch and a brace of points from wing back Ciaran O'Sullivan, both from frees, Aidan Dorgan and Stephen O'Brien gave them the advantage.

Limerick refused to fold and, on 25 minutes, Dan Murphy chipped in from the right and the effective Colm Hickey beat Kevin O'Dwyer to score.

Philip Clifford and Dan Reidy exchanged points before Limerick scored another goal on 31 minutes, this time Jimmy Carroll carving the opportunity for Hickey to leave it 2-3 to 0-7.

Cork sent out distress signals and Clifford and Nicholas Murphy answered to leave them level at the interval.