Hurling: KEANO HELPS REBELS YELL

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jul 23, 2006 | by PAUL KEANE

CORK 0-19

LIMERICK 0-18

It had Roy Keane written all over it.

It wasn't always pretty but it was so effective as champions Cork shrugged off Limerick in Thurles.

Two weeks ago, the ex-Ireland and Manchester United skipper Keane gave his native Cork a two hour plus pep talk.

He told them to forget the three-in-a-row - 'aim for the four or the five-in-a-row'.

The Rebels obviously took heed as they dragged themselves kicking and screaming past Limerick to an August 6 semi-final.

In line with standard practice, they rarely excelled but proved once again they're the ultimate dogs of war.

Leading by five points at half-time and again with 17 minutes to go it should have been plain sailing.

But gritty Limerick fought back to leave just a point between them at crucial times.

Experience was key as Ben O'Connor and Joe Deane hit vital late scores.

Manager John Allen said: "A draw probably would have been a fairer

result. It was score for score and heartstopping stuff. But I'm delighted we came through. It was another test of character and we passed it well."

Limerick chief Richie Bennis praised his players despite coming up short.

He said: "I'm very proud and I couldn't have asked for any more.

"They gave it absolutely everything, but came up just an inch shy."

A tense, tetchy first-half hardly hinted that such an exciting finale lay in wait.

They were level four times up to 0-5 apiece before Cork began to impose themselves.

After the 23rd minute Limerick didn't score in the half again from play.

In turn, Cork hit six fine points to open up a significant advantage.

Wing-forward Neill Ronan was impressive with three points before the break. Tom Kenny, Niall McCarthy and Ben O'Connor were then on the mark too as Cork led 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time.

Nobody was giving 6/1 underdogs Limerick a hope now.

Ultimately, there was no second-half shock but Limerick pushed Cork hard.

Cork kept that five point lead in tact up to the 53rd minute before a late Limerick revival.

Niall Moran was at the hub of it with a string of Limerick scores.

By 56 minutes they trailed by just one, 0-14 to 0-15. It was tit for tat until the run-in but Limerick never levelled.

But then points from Ben O'Connor, Joe Deane and Niall McCarthy saved Cork's bacon.

CORK: J Deane (3f, 1p) & B O'Connor (2f) 0-5 each' N Ronan 0-3' T Kenny & N McCarthy 0-2 each' J O'Connor &B Corcoran 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: AO'Shaughnessy 0-5 (4f)' N Moran 0-4' C Fitzgerald, M O'Brien & P Tobin 0-2 each' TJ Ryan, M Keane, M Foley (1f) 0-1 each.