MUNSTER U-21 HURLING FINAL Limerick 4-20 Cork 1-27 (After extra-time): LIMERICK BROKE Cork hearts last night as they came out on top of an extraordinary encounter in the Gaelic Grounds, with Declan Hannon's goal in the second half of extra time eventually tipping the contest their way, and earning them a first title in this grade since 2002.
Limerick had a dream start with a superb goal inside 20 seconds by Graeme Mulcahy, who swivelled past two defenders before rounding goalkeeper Darren McCarthy and flicking to the net.
The sides swapped points and a couple of frees by Jamie Coughlan and a point from play by Michael O’Sullivan had the sides level after 10 minutes, 1-1 to 0-4.
Even at this early stage Aidan Walsh was causing major problems for the Limerick defence and Cian McNamara in particular and it was no surprise when James O’Brien replaced McNamara after 16 minutes. But Walsh continued to impress and by half-time he had scored five points from play as Cork led by 0-12 to 1-7.
A glorious five-minute spell which yielded 2-3 had Limerick five points clear 11 minutes into the second half but Cork came back again and chipped away at the lead before a superb goal by Luke O’Farrell brought the deficit to only two points.
Coughlan landed a free before a wonder point from Walsh seconds from the end of normal time – his eighth from play – took this epic final to extra time.
Cork made the better start in extra time with two points by Coughlan from frees and another by Simon O’Brien, and it was starting to look as if another heartbreaking defeat was staring Limerick in the face. Conor Allis lofted over a long-range Limerick free and at the break in extra time Cork led by three, 1-26 to 3-17.
An Allis free cut the arrears and four minutes after the resumption came Limerick’s fourth goal. Mulcahy played a key role as he deftly set up the chance for Declan Hannon to blast past Darren McCarthy before Kevin Downes added a point on an evening that Limerick fans will cherish for many a year to come.
Mulcahy’s opportunism and Shane Dowling’s accuracy from play and frees were vital, but equally impressive was the contribution of keeper Aaron Murphy who made four superb saves over the course of the evening.
LIMERICK: A Murphy; A Dempsey, P Begley, S OReilly; C McNamara, C Hayes, T OCallaghan; C Allis (0-4, 0-2 frees), S OBrien (1-0); N Kennedy, D Hannon (1-3), S Dowling (0-8, 0-6 frees); M Ryan, K Downes (0-1), G Mulcahy (2-1). Subs: J OBrien for McNamara (16 mins), M Carmody (0-3) for Ryan (half-time), A Breen for S OBrien (56 mins), B Cleary for OReilly (ET), B OConnell for OCallaghan (ET), S OBrien for Breen (ET).
CORK: D McCarthy; C Joyce, D OCathalane, S Corry; J Nagle, W Egan, M Ellis; S OFarrell, D Roche; D Brosnan (0-1), C Lehane (0-5), A Walsh (0-8); L OFarrell (1-2), M OSullivan (0-1), J Coughlan (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Subs: P Honohan for Ellis (half-time), D Drake for Brosnan (39 mins), B Withers for Corry (41 mins), S OBrien (0-1) for S OFarrell (45 mins), P Haughney for Lehane (55 mins), Lehane for Haughney (ET), Brosnan for M OSullivan (ET).
Referee: P Casey(Waterford).
