Pondering on the starting point? Over the recent years, I’ve witnessed numerous matches that I initially considered to be at their pinnacle, to the point where it’s become more challenging to be astounded. Yet, last Saturday night was absolutely astonishing; teeming crowds, high-spirited enthusiasm, pivotal indications for what lies ahead, and an explosive conclusion.
Let’s begin with the climax. All doubts and uncertainties related to Cork are epitomised by Shane Kingston. The past few years have been rather challenging due to injuries, bearing the legacy of an extraordinary youth career, and the fact that his father was the coach—a situation notoriously difficult to handle, as both have confessed. On top of this, he missed crucial chances.
As Limerick progressed from an eight-point shortfall to a four-point advantage, he entered as a substitute. Immediately presented with an excellent scoring opportunity right before the goal, Kingston missed. One can only envision the young man’s feelings at that instant, but this was not his concluding act.
Kingston scored a fantastic point with his right foot after showing up on the opposite side. To conclude, he embarked on an awe-inspiring run to the left—resembling an under-12 match—tapped the ball over a defender’s head and was brought down by Kyle Hayes for a penalty kick. Patrick Horgan expertly drove the ball into the top corner.
This was not merely Kingston’s redemption, but the redemption of Cork itself. They fulfilled all necessary conditions to defeat Limerick.
I assume that when John Kiely and his team stepped off the pitch and observed the ecstatic Cork fans pouring onto the field, they pondered the long-term influence of their action. It seemed as though the ‘red and white genie’ had been unleashed. They must be praying that Tipperary can restore order next week.
Cork’s traits are well understood. They are known for their speed, agility, and scoring potency, but they also demonstrated a surprising aptitude in aerial combat, a skill I never imagined they could employ against Limerick. Similarly, their strategy of directly challenging their opponent worked wonders; their large defensive line was no longer a threat once they found room behind the half-backs. Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy, and Darragh Fitzgibbon relished their roles, and Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan, and Brian Hayes all posed serious threats.
Remarkably, their defence remained sturdy. It was indeed, a remarkable team accomplishment.
Limerick has had a consistent issue throughout the season, remaining highly vulnerable from the back and lacking in energy. Diarmaid Byrnes’s frees could be seen as a symbol of their performance – they’re a long way from crossing the proverbial bar. When Byrnes plays well, he usually manages to score five or six points. Yet, it appears as if the entire team’s performance is tied to the frees which are currently sorely off target and this must be hitting Byrnes’s confidence hard.
However, both ends of the team have managed to keep the team’s dynamic intact. In particular, Nickie Quaid has made several crucial saves. Indeed, were it not for two of his impressive saves – one phenomenal and another exceptional, Limerick would have been more than eight behind at half-time. He showed the same saving prowess in Ennis against Clare, negating goals that would have otherwise sealed their defeat.
In the full forward line, Aaron Gillane was striving to form opportunities and cause some damage. His teammate, Séamus Flanagan performed stunningly, but even a score of 3-3 couldn’t stop him from being on the losing side. The squad’s main issues persisted in the zones between Quaid and the full forwards.
However, at half-time, one could feel that the wind was on Limerick’s side and that they wouldn’t have to deal with those extensive puckouts across their half-backs, which then did happen. Consequently, they upped their game and started to gain momentum.
When Ger Hegarty, who has proven consistent since the league semi-final against Kilkenny, put them four up, it seemed inevitable that Cork would come close, but fall short. Despite enormous home support, they were once again led away defeated. Yet, they commendably refused to accept this recurring fate.
Nevertheless, Limerick has considerable improvements to make. They’ve also been accumulating a troubling number of injuries, with Mike Casey, Peter Casey and now Seán Finn sidelined. Additionally, Darragh O’Donovan hasn’t made a game appearance yet, creating more gaps in the team – a squad that is used to having injuries amongst its players, but not affecting this many of them.
Ultimately, a shoutout is needed for Carlow who managed a draw with Kilkenny. This result felt a bit surreal and was utterly praise-worthy, especially considering Kilkenny’s terrific performance and their potential to make it to another All-Ireland final. Leinster is becoming a stage full of unexpected narratives, creating a substantial stir, and competing with the buzz that Munster is eliciting as well.