LIMERICK
NICKIE QUAID
GOALKEEPER
May feel he might have stopped Shane Kingston’s early goal, which flew in head height at his near post, but more than made up for it with the quality of his puck outs, short and long. He barely gave one away, and made no mistakes. Always kept Limerick on the front foot - 9
SEAN FINN
RIGHT CORNER BACK
His fourth star was already well on the way and this copper fastened it. Got burned for the Kingston goal but was superlative after that, giving a masterclass of corner back play on the dangerous Jack O’Connor. At one point shrugged off Shane Barrett when he decided to go at him - 9
DAN MORRISSEY
FULL BACK
Morrissey was an absolute rock at full back. Took a couple of spectacular catches to set his side on the attack. Never looks flustered and physically no-one is going to beat him. Horgan nicked a couple of points from play, but Limerick would have settled for that before the game - 8
BARRY NASH
LEFT CORNER BACK
Had a hand in two first half points. Also shot a point himself and wided a long range one he might have been best to move on. Cork tired to expose him with Seamus Harnedy and Robbie O’Flynn, but he was up to the task, and his hurling always stands up too - 8
DIARMAID BYRNES
RIGHT HALF BACK
Byrnes supplied the pass inside that led to Aaron Gillane’s first half goal. He had three long range shots on the day and finished with two points, one from play and one from a dead ball. Cork were switching their half forwards the whole time, but it didn’t faze the Patrickswell powerhouse - 8
DECLAN HANNON
CENTRE HALF BACK
This has been Hannon’s best year for Limerick, particularly in the All-Ireland series. Did his job superbly well, and his fingerprints were all over four points. He had three shots on the day and converted two of them. A great outlet for his side. Rarely exposed by his man and wasn’t here - 8
KYLE HAYES
LEFT HALF BACK
Would have been a nine out of 10 but for some errant shooting. Hayes had three second half wides. Gave a poor pass early on, but then drove into the game. He was always an option out on the left wing and used the ball well. Hard to believe he is still just 23 - 8
WILLIAM O’DONOGHUE
MIDFIELD
The All Star he should have got last year is on its way this year. An absolute rock in the middle of the field. Cork are the latest side to find their midfield minced by the O’Donoghue/O’Donovan combination. Does nothing spectacular and turned down a point shot at one stage, but an integral part of the gameplan - 8
DARRAGH O’DONOVAN
MIDFIELD
Great pass for Flanagan’s point on eight minutes. Had a monster of a game. Uncompromising in the tackle, and works his socks off, but also uses the ball extremely well with some lovely diagonal passes inside. One of his finest displays in a green jersey. Vice conductor to Cian Lynch. Scored a point - 9
GEAROID HEGARTY
RIGHT HALF FORWARD
Just a force of nature. He plundered 2-2 from play in the first half, and could have had another 1-1. The timing and angle of his run for the first goal was superb, and the way he finished the second was right out of the top drawer. An awesome athlete and player. Teams have no idea what to do with him - 9
CIAN LYNCH
CENTRE HALF FORWARD
What a performance from Lynch. Perhaps his finest hour and there have been a few. Only one of his six points from play came in the first half, but he provided the assist for both of Hegarty’s goals. Surely has to be man marked. Clearly has all the skills, but also the work rate to match it - 10
TOM MORRISSEY
LEFT HALF FORWARD
Another outstanding performance and another outstanding season from the Ahane man. Morrissey hit three points from play from four shots at goal and caused all sorts of trouble for the Cork backs. His GPS ratings must consistently be higher than any of his team mates and that’s saying something. Taken off on 69 minutes when the job was done - 8
AARON GILLANE
RIGHT CORNER FORWARD
Gillane finished with 1-6, including 1-3 from play. The Patrickswell man just does the business every single day he goes out there. Won a free for a point with a great catch. Sean O’Donoghue was in fine form coming in here, but Gillane caused him plenty of trouble. Hit two wides and struck a post with a free - 9
SEAMUS FLANAGAN
FULL FORWARD
One of the biggest mysteries on the day was how Flanagan finished the game with a single point, as he appeared to be involved in everything and caused Robert Downey all sorts of bother. One of the reasons was the three wides he hit. Set up Gillane’s goal with a routine hand pass - 8
PETER CASEY
LEFT CORNER FORWARD
Five points from play in the opening 25 minutes and not wide was a staggering return. Niall O’Leary didn’t know what to do with him. Dummies, shimmies, the whole lot. Went down awkwardly on 29 minutes and was forced out of the game in first half stoppage time. What an effort - 9
SUBS:
GRAEME MULCAHY: Came on in first half stoppage time for the injured Peter Casey. Shot a point and put in his usual big shift. Slotted in seamlessly. Taken off again on 68 minutes - 7
DAVID REIDY: In as a spell for a blood sub for Cian Lynch. Came on after 62 minutes and fairly got stuck in. Scored a point, turned over two balls, and hit a big shoulder.
COLIN COUGHLAN: Came in for skipper Declan Hannon with the game long up for Cork - 7
BARRY MURPHY: Not on long enough to be rated
PAT RYAN: Not on long enough to be rated
CORK
PATRICK COLLINS
GOALKEEPER
Spilled an early ball, but got it back to help create a Cork point. The Limerick crowd started to get on his back. Limerick went after Collins and his backs when they tried to play it out. Had a couple of loose puck outs. Made a fine save from Tom Morrissey. Kept trying to play out - 6
NIALL O’LEARY
RIGHT CORNER BACK
The space O’Leary had to deal with around him in attempting to mark Peter Casey made it an unenviable task, but it was an afternoon to forget as his man hit five points from play by the 25th minute. O’Leary hit one of his own. Graeme Mulcahy came onto him after the break. Taken off on 47 minutes - 5
ROBERT DOWNEY
FULL BACK
He kept at it on Seamus Flanagan. His man got one point from play and had three wides.
Involved in the mix-up for Aaron Gillane’s 14th minute goal, which was a big moment in the game. Made huge strides this year. The space in the Cork full back line made it impossible to defend at times - 6
SEAN O’DONOGHUE
LEFT CORNER BACK
After a big semi-final on Eoin Cody, and in the form of his life, O’Donoghue was handed the man marking job on Aaron Gillane. He intercepted one fine ball to set up a score, but was involved in a mix-up with Robert Downey for Limerick’s second goal. Had a hand in three scores and worked the ball out well at times. Taken off on 52 minutes - 6
TIM O’MAHONY
RIGHT HALF BACK
Never got into the game and cut a frustrated figure by the end. Hegarty caused him all manner of trouble, as he plundered 2-2 in the first half and could have had another 1-1 to go with it. Booked on 58 minutes for a wrestling match with Cian Lynch. Never got running at Limerick the way he can - 5
MARK COLEMAN
CENTRE HALF BACK
Cian Lynch floated around and made hay, with Coleman struggling to contain him or provide cover for a beleaguered full back line as Limerick stretched Cork to breaking point. Shot a point. Took a knock attempting to stop Hergarty firing for goal late in the half. Had a hand in Cork’s opening 1-1, but wasn’t able to wield influence thereafter - 5
EOIN CADOGAN
LEFT HALF BACK
Generally matched up with Tom Morrissey and found the going tough with his man dragging him outfield and leaving a lot of space for Limerick to exploit behind him. Lost a couple of balls as well as Cork struggled to move the ball out of defence. The All-Ireland hurling medal to go with his football one (2010) didn’t happen - 5
DARRAGH FITZGIBBON
MIDFIELD
Didn’t really get into the match, switching between centre half forward, wing forward and midfield to try and leave Coleman as a plus one. On 13 minutes Kieran Kingston didn’t look best pleased when Fitzgibbon launched a shot wide with Conor Cahalane inside him for a handy point. Popped another over the sideline. Had a hand in two first half points - 5
LUKE MEADE
MIDFIELD
One of Cork’s better performers, although he won’t want to see the ball he lost along the sideline, which led to Limerick’s first goal after just two minutes. Meade began and finished a move for Cork’s ninth point. Had a good first half. The game was up after that - 6
CONOR CAHALANE
RIGHT HALF FORWARD
Just couldn’t get himself into the game and got very few touches of the ball. Was taken off at half-time for his older brother, Damien. Played at midfield and gave second best to the formidable Limerick pair of Darragh O’Donovan and William O’Donoghue - 5
SEAMUS HARNEDY
CENTRE HALF FORWARD
One of the team’s old hands, Harnedy kept plugging away and finished with four points from play. He was also fouled for two more. Took one fine ball in front of Hannon for a point. Played across the half forward line and proved elusive for Limerick to pick up - 7
SHANE KINGSON
LEFT HALF FORWARD
Started like a train, flying past Sean Finn of all people to lash to the net on three minutes, refusing to settle for a point. It seemed like a major statement against Limerick’s top man marker. He had a couple of bad wides and faded out of the game. Wasn’t really involved in the second half - 5
ROBBIE O’FLYNN
RIGHT CORNER FORWARD
O’Flynn spent time in the corner, but also moved out the field. Didn’t score and was taken off injured after 55 minutes. Fouled for Cork’s second point and set up the fourth. Set up the 10th score too. Took the fight to Limerick early on, before his side faded - 6
PATRICK HORGAN
FULL FORWARD
That All-Ireland continues to elude him, but Horgan didn’t let himself down here. Hit 12 points, including two from play. Had three wides. Fouled for Cork’s last two points but the game was up. Had a long range shot at goal late on. Found Dan Morrissey a hard man to get the better of - 7
JACK O’CONNOR
LEFT CORNER FORWARD
Busy and bustling early on, fouled for the first point and got himself a point. Perhaps surprising that he was one of those to make way on 47 minutes, considering he only got going against Kilkenny from 50 minutes on. Marked by the best defender in the country, Sean Finn, he found the going tough - 5
SUBS:
DAMIEN CAHALANE: Came on a half-time for his brother Conor, but the damage was done. Had a wide, and didn’t fancy another shot. Got on a fair bit of ball. Turned over late on by a Limerick pack - 6
ALAN CADOGAN: Entered the fray on 47 minutes. Shot a point and brought a bit of badly needed urgency to the Cork side - 6
SHANE BARRETT: Came in on 47 minutes and got a point. Was fouled for another - 6
SEAN O’LEARY-HAYES: The final part of a triple substitution on 47 minutes. He came in at corner back for Niall O’Leary - 6
NIALL CASHMAN: Like his colleagues, Cork’s goose was cooked by the time he came in on 52 minutes - 6
DECLAN DALTON: Came in on 55 minutes for the injured Robbie O’Flynn. On the hour mark thumped Dan Morrissey with a shoulder. Cork could have done with more of this earlier - 6
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
