Cork 3-17 Limerick 0-8
Three first-half goals, including two from debutants Brian Hurley and John O'Rourke, helped Cork to a very comfortable 3-17 to 0-8 win over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening.
Cork led by 10 points at the break following the three goals, scored between the 24th and 31st minute, and they added to their big lead throughout a low-key second-half. Cork will
now play Clare in the Munster semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis, on June 16.
Cork led 3-4 to 0-3 at the break thanks to those three goals in the space of seven minutes towards the end of the first half.
The opening 20 minutes were cagey, but Cork emerged from them 0-4 to 0-2 in front, with Damian Cahalane and Daniel Goulding both kicking two points apiece. The first Cork goal came on 24 minutes when debutant Hurley punched to the net following a long ball in. Four minutes later, another debutant, O'Rourke nipped in for a second goal to make it 2-4 to 0-2.
Limerick were stunned, and although they replied with a point from Eoghan O'Connor, it wasn't long before a
third Cork goal completely took the sting out of the game.
It came from Pearse O'Neill, who finished a wonderful team move to the net. That left Cork in total control going in at the interval, and the game was as good as over.
Nonetheless, Conor Counihan's side continued to add scores after the restart, and 15 minutes into the second half the score was 3-10 to 0-4 following points from Paul Kerrigan and Hurley (2).
Limerick managed four more points before the end, but the final quarter was effectively shooting practice for Cork, as they added scores with ease and emptied their bench to cruise into the semi-finals with a massive 18-point win.