Cork Sink Limerick At The Gaelic Grounds

Allianz GAA Hurling National League Division 1
Limerick 1-14 Cork 2-21

Michael Cussen scored 1-5 from play in Cork's 2-21 to 1-14 Allianz GAA Hurling National League Division One victory over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.

The Sarsfields clubman, who quit the Cork football panel to concentrate on hurling this year, gave a superb performance against a Limerick team that competed well in the first half but wilted badly after the break.   

Limerick trailed 1-10 to 0-7 at the interval after a brave showing, but the Rebels upped the intensity of their game at the start of the second half and eased to a ten-point victory.

Cussen, who was named in the Cork team at full-forward ahead of Aisake ÓhAilpín, did his hopes of staking a permanent place in the Cork attack no harm when he drilled home a fine goal in the fourth minute. Cussen showed a wonderful first touch to take a long ball on the run and slammed a shot past Tadhg Flynn in the Limerick goal.

Limerick responded with a sublime solo effort from Nicky Quaid, but the Rebels could have grabbed a second goal a minute later had Kieran Murphy not blasted over the bar when the goal was at his mercy.

Cork looked like running away with the game early on as John Gardiner and Cussen gave them a 1-4 to 0-1 lead. However, Justin McCarthy's side showed great heart and hit back with points from Brian O'Sullivan, Quaid and a pair of Alan O'Connor frees.

Indeed, when Paul Browne and Paudie McNamara - two of the players who featured in Limerick's 2009 Championship panel - found the target, Limerick had reduced the gap to 1-7 to 0-7.

However, Cork finished the half with three points without reply as Cussen again showed his worth with a fine score, Gardiner struck his third of the half, and Patrick Horgan arrowed a free over the bar to give Cork a 1-10 to 0-7 lead.    

Cork corner forward Patrick Horgan hit four points in a row after the break before substitute Thomas O'Brien briefly gave Limerick hope with a 48th minute goal.

However, the Rebels once again responded impressively, with Cussen adding two more points from play to his total, while the ever willing Brian McCarthy pulled one back for Limerick.

The game was long over as a contest, but Cork substitute Cian McCarthy wasn't finished and he added another goal with four minutes left on the clock to complete the rout.