Late drama as Cork end Limerick's 12-month unbeaten run to stay alive in Munster SHC

May 11, 2024

Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon and William O'Donoghue of Limerick ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Cork dug their deepest in the dying stages to earn a 3-28 to 3-26 victory over Limerick and keep their Munster senior hurling championship hopes alive.

In a pulsating contest at a packed Pairc Ui Chaoimh, it was Patrick Horgan's penalty in the fourth minute of injury-time that swung it for the hosts after they’d let an eight-point lead slip to the All-Ireland champions and left themselves on the brink of elimination.

The Rebels’ electric start saw them with the sliotar in the visitors’ net after just four minutes via Seamus Harnedy and, from there, they’d run up a 1-9 to 0-4 advantage.

Inevitably, Limerick battled back to get the margin down to six ahead of a 27th minute Seamus Flanagan goal. However, they’d ship another major a minute later after Shane Barrett smashed in and that moved Cork towards a 2-15 to 1-10 half-time lead.

John Kiely’s men battled in the third quarter to dwindle their deficit down to five and when Flanagan got in for his second goal on 52 minutes they were looking like the more likely side to claim the points and, ultimately, bring the curtain down on their opponents’ season.

Five minutes later and Flanagan would complete his hat-trick to put the Treaty men ahead (3-21 to 2-23) and they’d move three in front before holding a two-point lead in injury-time when the Leesiders won a penalty which talisman Horgan held his nerve to convert.

A minute later, Brian Hayes pucked over the last score of a thrilling encounter to ensure that Cork’s championship hopes remain firmly intact as Limerick slumped to their first SHC loss in 12 months in the process.


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