Cork v Limerick player ratings: Hayes, Fitzgibbon and Barrett lead the way on memorable day for the Rebels

CORK

Patrick Collins 8

Made a brilliant save from Gillane in the first half when Limerick looked like they might gather momentum and repeated the trick in the second half. Delivered a number of laser guided puck outs that led directly to scores.

Niall O’Leary 7

Part of a solid Cork defensive effort but made a key possession when the ball was played in late on and Limerick were gathering momentum.

Eoin Downey 8

Met the physical challenge of Seamus Flanagan head on and that set the tone for everyone else in the Cork defence.

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – July 7th

Sean O’Donoghue 6

Was handed the responsibility of tracking Aaron Gillane and stuck to that considerable task resolutely even as the Patrickswell man hit form.

Tim O’Mahony 7

First man withdrawn but O’Mahony had run himself to a standstill at that point having shadowed Cian Lynch.

Robert Downey 7

Had a clear instruction to stay and mind the house early on but roamed forward for a rousing score on four minutes. Helped Cork keep a clean sheet.

Mark Coleman 7

Like most of his team mates, Coleman tackled and carried hard all day and emptied the tank for the cause. Clipped over a point in the first half.

Ciaran Joyce 7

Perhaps harshly pulled for overcarrying in the first half that led to a Limerick point, Joyce put in an industrious shift and made a crucial, goal-saving block on Gillane in the second half.

Darragh Fitzgibbon 9

Delivered in almost every facet of the game. Landed points, created scores and turned over ball. A brilliant all-round performance in the engine room.

Declan Dalton 8

Landed a few crucial second-half points when Cork needed to make their superiority count. What was just as important was that he kept Kyle Hayes to the margins of the game.

Shane Barrett 9

Was deep in the All-Star conversation before this game and cemented those claims here. Limerick never found an answer to his energy and creativity.

Seamus Harnedy 8

Four points from play, one of the few survivors from the 2013 finals against Clare gets a chance to set the record straight.

Patrick Horgan 7

Was forced to wait for his 700th championship point with two first-half wides with another effort coming off the post. Finished the day with four but Cork hearts might have been in their mouths when he was withdrawn just as they won a late, and potentially crucial, free.

Alan Connolly 8

Showed an admirable appetite for all types of deliveries into the full forward line. Landed three points and was pulled for a throw, for what might have been Cork’s second goal.

Brian Hayes 9

Scored one first-half goal and had the ball in the net again only for play to be pulled back for a throw. That he finished the day with 1-4 from play says everything about his contribution.

SUBS: Shane Kingston for Horgan (BS 33–34), Ethan Twomey for O’Mahony (59), Shane Kingston for Dalton (62), Robbie O’Flynn for Harnedy (67), Padraig Power for Horgan (73)

Bench impact – 7: Didn’t have the impact of Limerick’s bench and had the scenario where Horgan was withdrawn moments before a scoreable free was to be taken but did Pat Ryan’s replacements did enough to see the game out.

LIMERICK

Nickie Quaid 7

There were echoes of 2018 when Quaid pulled off a brilliant late save to deny Patrick Horgan which kept Limerick in the game here. However, there was to be no Limerick win this time around.

Sean Finn 6

Usually a defensive rock, Finn struggled here particularly in the second half as the Cork deliveries came early and often and the Rebel forwards looked to stretch the play

Dan Morrissey 6

Like the rest of the full back line, Morrissey and Co found the going tough as Cork went route one and the likes of Alan Connolly and Hayes fed gleefully off the scraps.

Mike Casey 6

Struggled early on with Brian Hayes as the Limerick full back line shipped water. Stuck to his task manfully but there was little respite all afternoon even as duties changed.

Diarmaid Byrnes 6

Registered a wide from a 65 and dropped another short before settling with a brilliant fetch and point from a Cork puck out. However, was part of a half back line that was second best.

Declan Hannon 6

Another who couldn’t yield his usual influence for Limerick as he tried to quell the influence of the brilliant Shane Barrett.

Kyle Hayes 6

So often both a provider and scorer for Limerick, he was forced to the fringes here as he was busied by the excellent Declan Dalton. Couldn’t get on the ball enough.

Will O’Donoghue 6

O’Donoghue often pulls a lot of the Limerick play together but there was no breathing space here and, unusually, he was withdrawn late on.

Cathal O’Neill 7

No shortage of effort and work rate from O’Neill who also clipped over three points. Has grown into an important player for Limerick.

Gearoid Hegarty 6

You’d have gotten long odds that Hegarty’s first (and only) score of the game would come on 69 minutes. Tried hard to get into the game including heading into the full forward line for first half but it didn’t fall for him.

Cian Lynch 6

Threatened to take the game by the scruff of the neck at times in the first half as he showed flashes of his brilliance but Cork wouldn’t allow it.

Tom Morrissey 6

Hit two early wides before finding his range with two nice scores but his influence waned in the second half.

Aaron Gillane 9

Coming into this game the reigning Hurler of the Year had landed just one point in his previous three championship games but was at his best today, finishing with ten points from 11 attempts on goal.

Seamus Flanagan 6

Was always going to be a marked man having hit 3-3 in the defeat in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and couldn’t get into the game in the same way. Flanagan was the first man withdrawn for the Treaty.

David Reidy 7

One of Limerick’s best performers in the first half as he clipped over three points but the supply line dried up as Cork picked up the pace in the second half.

SUBS 8: Shane O’Brien for Flanagan (52), Darragh O’Donovan for O’Donoghue, Adam English for Reidy (both 54), Aidan O’Connor for Tom Morrissey (64).

Bench impact – 8: Limerick’s subs delivered four points down the home stretch to keep Limerick hopes alive.