Limerick 3-32 Cork 1-22: Cork player ratings

Eamon Donoghue runs the rule over the Cork after their All-Ireland final loss

Patrick Horgan tries to get the ball away under pressure from Barry Nash. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Patrick Horgan tries to get the ball away under pressure from Barry Nash. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

1 Patrick Collins

Limerick scored three goals but the Cork goalkeeper made a superb save to deny Tom Morrissey another. Many of Cork's scores came from quick and clever distribution from Collins but he forced a few restarts too. Rating: 6

2 Niall O’Leary

The Cork corner back drove forward for a point in the first half but was destroyed by Peter Casey who had five points from play before limping off injured. Rating: 5

3 Robert Downey

Often left exposed, he made some good blocks and showed leadership to take the ball out of defence, but was well beaten by Séamus Flanagan. Rating: 6

4 Sean O’Donoghue

The Cork fullback line were under savage pressure throughout. O'Donoghue struggled with Aaron Gillane and was replaced after 50 minutes. Rating: 5

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5 Tim O’Mahony

The Newtownshandrum club man battled valiantly but very little came off for him. The Limerick half forward line scored 2-11 from play with Gearóid Hegarty to the fore and often in acres of space. Rating: 5

Seamus Harnedy was one of Cork’s better performers against Limerick. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Seamus Harnedy was one of Cork’s better performers against Limerick. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

6 Mark Coleman

Given the unenviable task of matching up against Cian Lynch, the Cork centre back's best efforts at sweepings were undermined by the brilliance of the Limerick number 11. He scored a free from distance and showed some nice flashes but it was far from his best performance. Rating: 6

7 Eoin Cadogan

He was moved around putting out fires but like many of his defensive colleagues the dual star worked hard, but failed to do his primary duty - contain his man. Rating: 5

8 Darragh Fitzgibbon

The Cork midfielder will be glad to be back to fitness this year but he was a long way off his dynamic best this afternoon, only showing up in flashes in the second quarter. Rating: 5

9 Luke Meade

His sloppy handpass led to the first Limerick goal, however he did work his socks off around the middle and scored a good point. Rating: 6

10 Conor Cahalane

Replaced at half-time by his brother after a quiet opening 35 minutes. Rating: 5

11 Seamus Harnedy

A constant outlet and scorer of four points. Harnedy did very well off limited possession, without ever really having an influence on the match. Still though, Cork's best player. Rating: 8

12 Robbie O’Flynn

The Cork half forward was one of the few players on his team able to shake off the tackle and pop a pass to a free man. He was involved in some nice scores but never really opened up and limped off after 47 minutes. Rating: 6

13 Jack O’Connor

O'Connor scored a good point in the opening quarter, and showed intent to run at the Limerick defence early on. But the game wore on without him and he was replaced by Alan Cadogan. Rating: 5

Shane Kingstone scores  Cork’s opening and solitary goal againast Limerick. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Shane Kingstone scores Cork’s opening and solitary goal againast Limerick. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

14 Patrick Horgan

Cork's talisman finished the game with 0-12, he was fouled for three of his 10 pointed frees. As well as nailing two wonderful scores from play as Cork tried in vain to stay in the contest in the second quarter. Rating: 8

15 Shane Kingston

His first half goal was top class, taking on his man. Making his angle at pace and roofing the net. Otherwise it was a quiet afternoon for the semi-final super sub. Rating: 6

Management

Reaching the final would've been seen as major progress at the start of the year, but given the opportunity they failed to get their match-ups right for any of Limerick's key forwards. The game was played entirely on Limerick's terms. Rating: 5

Subs

Shane Barrett and Alan Cadogan both pointed off the bench and looked lively but none of Cork's changes had a major impact on the game. Rating: 5

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist