Munster Minor Hurling Championship Loser's Group
Cork 0-23 Limerick 1-11

MORE disappointment for the Limerick minor hurlers as they exit the ESB sponsored Munster minor hurling championship. After last week's 15 point loss to Tipperary in the first round, this nine-point defeat firmly closed the backdoor on Peter Finn's charges in Cork's Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Remarkably, Limerick led 1-9 to 0-10 at half time, but only managed two points in a second half while Cork landed 13 points at their ease.
In the final analysis, Cork's stickwork was far superior, they were physically stronger and it was clear that they possessed the self-belief, that Limerick lacked. The only positives for Limerick came in the first half, when they were backed by a gentle breeze on the banks of the Lee.
Coming off the back of the crushing defeat in Thurles, Limerick got the best possible start with three points inside five minutes - all from Kevin Downes placed balls.
The Na Piarsaigh man picked up a knock in these early minutes, which was to hamper his role from open play.
At this stage, Limerick were hunting in packs throughout the field and had Cork unsettled.
The Rebels responded to Limerick's early scoring spree with their first point in the seventh minute.
From that puckout, came the Limerick goal. Sean Madden caught superbly and forced his way forward.
The Ahane man, who impressed greatly in the first half, picked out captain Graham Mulcahy with a neat pass.
The Kilmallock teenager did the rest - soloing forward, avoiding a hook, and blasting to the net.
Less than eight minutes were played and Limerick led 1-3 to 0-1.
But this was to be a false dawn?
For the remaining 52 minutes, Cork hit 0-22 to Limerick's 0-8.
The Limerick goal stung Cork into action.
They hit six successive points within 10 minutes to lead 0-7 to 1-3 at the 18 minute mark.
The lead could have been more, but Niall Carrig saved an 11th minute penalty from Seamus O'Farrell, after Jack O'Callaghan had fouled Simon O'Brien.
Less than 10 minutes later, Kieran Kennedy was the Limerick hero when he got back on the line to save another Cork goal effort.
To their credit, Limerick bounced back from the Cork period of dominance and finished the half on top.
Kieran Kennedy and Pat Begley led from the back, while Timmy Fleming was a tireless worker in midfield.
In attack, the half forward line tore in the game, but alas there was very little offered from the inside line of attack.
After 12 minutes without a score, Sean Madden re-ignited the Shannonside challenge.
The sides were level four times the next 15 minutes, as Downes and Niall Kennedy got scores from play.
When Madden hit his third point of a 10 minute spell Limerick went to the interval dressing room with a 1-9 to 0-10 lead. Limerick had to face into the breeze in the second half, but no one could have forecast the collapse.
Cork made subtle changes to the side at the break and they certainly had the desired result. Within six minutes of the restart, Cork were 0-14 to 1-9 ahead.
Once they hit the front it was all one way traffic. In a Limerick collapse the only response was a Downes free (43rd minute) and late kieran Kennedy point (58th minute). Cork's final substitution was Mossie Carroll of Erin's Own - a son of Garryspillane's former Limerick player/selector of the same name.

Cork: Darren McCarthy; Eoin Moynihan, Darragh Rodgers, Paul Honohan; William Ryan, Padraig O'Shea (0-1, 1 '65), Aidan Walsh (0-1); Daniel Roche (0-1), William Egan; Seamus O'Farrell (0-1), Mark Collins (0-1), Ciaran Sheehan (0-2); Jamie O'Dwyer (0-4), Simon O'Brien (0-6, 4 frees), Paul Haughney (0-6). Subs: Maurice Sexton for Willie Ryan (h/t), Mossie Carroll for Mark Collins (58mins).

Limerick: Niall Carrig; Brian Cleary, Jack O'Callaghan, Kieran Kennedy (0-1); Mark Deegan, Darragh Madden, Pat Begley, Seanie O'Brien, Timmy Fleming; Graham Mulcahy (1-0), Sean Madden (0-3), Niall Kennedy (0-1); Kevin Downes (0-6, 4 frees, 1 '65), Shane Bulfin, Eoin O'Sullivan. Subs: Jake Greaney for Kevin Downes (45mins), Michael Keating for Shane Bulfin (56mins), Darragh Lyons for Eoin O'Sullivan (58mins).

Referee: Pat Casey (Waterford).