Sport

Masters in fine scoring form as Cork ease through

Munster SFC/ Cork 2-14 Limerick 0-7: Cork eased into a semi-final against Tipperary with a 13-point drubbing of Limerick before…

Mon May 21 2007 - 01:00

Munster SFC/ Cork 2-14 Limerick 0-7:Cork eased into a semi-final against Tipperary with a 13-point drubbing of Limerick before a crowd of 6,711 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

The Munster champions began impressively, sweeping 1-3 to 0-2 in front inside six minutes, but it took them another half-hour to add to their tally before turning around 2-4 to 0-5 in front.

Limerick could only muster a couple of Michael Reidy frees in the second half as Cork did as they pleased in a one-sided affair.

However, a dislocated shoulder suffered by goalkeeper Alan Quirke late in the game is likely to keep him out of action for at least six weeks.

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Once again James Masters was the dominant figure in the Cork attack. In a two-minute spell the Nemo Rangers star accumulated 1-2, starting with an exquisite point from an acute angle before finishing superbly for the opening goal.

A pointed free moments later suggested Cork would pull away even at this early juncture. Limerick, though, had other ideas. and a pointed Reidy free was followed by John Cooke's second score after 14 minutes, having opened the score after just 20 seconds. Another Reidy free in the 21st minute cut the deficit to the minimum, 1-3 to 0-5, with Cork struggling. But the game turned their way again in stoppage time. After Masters had added a point he turned provider for Noel O'Leary to palm the ball home after Seán Kiely stopped his initial effort.

Masters and Reidy exchanged frees in the second half, leaving Cork 2-7 to 0-7 in front after 49 minutes. At last the 6ft 7ins Michael Cussen began to make an impression as he tormented the defence. His ability to win possession and use it tellingly kept the scoreboard ticking along as Masters, Donncha O'Connor and Nicholas Murphy found their range. Substitutes Kevin O'Sullivan and Fintan Goold added to the tally.

CORK: A Quirke; M Shields, G Canty, K O'Connor; N O'Leary (1-0), G Spillane (0-1), A Lynch; D Kavanagh, N Murphy (0-1); C McCarthy, P O'Neill (0-1), K MacMahon; J Masters (1-7, three frees, one 45), M Cussen, D O'Connor (0-2, one free). Subs: K O'Sullivan (0-1)for MacMahon 40 mins, F Goold (0-1)for McCarthy (61 mins), D Hurley for Murphy and D Goulding for Masters (64 mins), P O'Shea for Quirke (injured 65 mins).

LIMERICK: S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Ahern, P Browne, captain, P Ranahan (0-1); T Carroll, J Galvin; S Lavin, J Ryan, T Cahill; J Cooke (0-2), S Buckley, M Reidy (0-4, frees). Subs:G Collins for Gallagher and D Horan for Cahill (half-time), M Crowley for Cooke (43 mins), C Ó Crualaoich for Carroll injured (55 mins).

Referee: P Fox(Westmeath).