Goals midway through the first half and two minutes from the end gave favourites Cork their anticipated win against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds in the Munster Under-21 football semi-final last night.

The game was close enough in the first half at the end of which Cork led 1-6 to 0-6.

Their goal came after 14 minutes from John O’Rourke. That effort was followed immediately by a pointed free by Brian Hurley and this had Cork cruising.

The champions would have won by a much bigger margin but for five superb saves by Limerick goalkeeper James Brudair and especially his three in the second half when Cork gained total dominance.

The keeper’s excellence meant they had to wait until two minutes from the end for their second goal, scored by Hurley.

Limerick failed to score from play in the second half and with Francis O’Riordan kicking seven points from frees only Danny Neville (2), Danny Frewen and Peter Nash managed to raise a flag.

Opening point
Limerick had the opening point four minutes in by Frewen but after 10 minutes Cork led 0-3 to 0-2 thanks to a point by Luke Connolly and two frees by Hurley.

Then came the opening goal when O’Rourke benefitted from a deflection which beat goalkeeper Brudair.

Cork led 1-4 to 0-2 but two frees from O’Riordan and another from Nash left only two between them.

Alan Cadogan and O’Rourke had further Cork points to counteract another pointed free by O’Riordan to have Cork 1-6 to 0-6 in front at the interval.

Limerick had six first half wides compared to only three for Cork.

The wide tally finished at 7 each but it was one-way traffic in a subdued second half.