Limerick 0-21 Cork 2-25 While they had ten points to spare in the end, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Cork as they opened their Electric Ireland Munster MHC campaign with a win on Friday night. Before a crowd of 2,385 at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Fergal McCormack’s side only trailed after the very first score of the game and a had a six-point half-time advantage. Limerick could not be shaken off in the second half though and the scoreboard read 1-20 to 0-19 in Cork’s favour when Rory Hanley’s pass gave Killian Begley a sight of goal for the hosts. His shot under pressure was brilliantly saved by Tom C Walsh in the Cork goal and Denis Fitzgerald completed the clearance. Cork counter-attacked and moments later, sub Seán Coughlan’s pass allowed Cormac Deane to crash home their second goal. Three points in quick succession from Michael T Brosnan, Deane and Craig O’Sullivan, put the outcome beyond doubt. Deane, son of Joe, finished with 1-4 but it was a strong ensemble performance. Satisfying for the management will be how the team retained their composure in the second half when Limerick sought to wipe out their deficit. While there had been signs of nervousness in Cork’s early play and Shane Waters had Limerick ahead inside two minutes, once Deane opened the Rebels’ account with a fifth-minute point after good work from Colm Garde, Tom A Walsh and Eoghan O’Shea, the scores began to flow Within two minutes, they were 0-4 to 0-1 in front and O’Shea and Ryan Dineen offered very potent threats in attack while their long-range shooting was a major asset, too. The half-back line of Michael T Brosnan, captain Bobby Carroll and Colm Garde offered a strong scaffold for progress further up the field as well a providing scoring potential. After goalkeeper Tom C Walsh had saved well to deny Cathal Dennehy, who was being fouled, Waters put over the free given to Limerick to make it 0-9 to 0-6 before Garde and Carroll combined for Brosnan to land a booming effort. Though that was answered by Waters’ sixth of the evening, Garde slung over a big one and then Carroll’s pass allowed Dineen to make it 0-12 to 0-7. Danny Sheehan, Paul Murphy and Cathal Dennehy, well set up by Michael Hanley, left just two in it as injury time loomed, but Cork cancelled out that mini-revival with a goal as Deane latched on to a dropping ball and fed Ruairc Donovan, who drilled a shot to the net. O’Shea’s third point meant the visitors retired with a 1-13 to 0-10 advantage. Points from Dennehy and Waters got Limerick off to a good start in the second half and much of the third quarter saw the sides exchange bursts of two and three points. Darragh Heavin, strong throughout at corner-back, got forward to make it 1-15 to 0-12 but Waters inspired a good Limerick period that had them back to within two, 1-16 to 0-17, after a nice Rory Hanley point on 44. Sub Seán Coughlan, Tom A Walsh and Craig O’Sullivan were all on target for Cork before a big Dennehy score brough Limerick back to four, 1-20 to 0-19, before the Begley goal chance. That could have left one in it; instead, Cork’s lead stretched to ten before Limerick were to score again and that same margin pertained at the end. The Rebels now have a two-week break before a trip to Tulla to face Clare on Saturday, April 12. Scorers for Limerick: S Waters 0-11 (0-7 f), C Dennehy, P Murphy 0-3 each, D Sheehan, R Hanley, A Kerins (0-1 f), S Óg Cahill Hayes 0-1 each. Cork: C Deane 1-4, C O’Sullivan 0-6 (0-2 f), R Dineen, E O’Shea 0-4 each, MT Brosnan 0-3, R Donovan 1-0, D Heavin, C Garde, S Coughlan, TA Walsh 0-1 each. LIMERICK: M Murphy; J Dwane, E Ryan, S Carroll; K McCarthy, G Thompson, M Hanley; E Hennessy, D O’Keeffe; D Sheehan, P Murphy, R Hanley; S Waters, C Dennehy, K Begley. Subs: S Óg Cahill Hayes for Hennessy (39), G O’Brien for Begley (51), S Fitzgerald for McCarthy (55), A Kerins for Waters (60), R Foley for O’Keeffe (60+1). CORK: Tom C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), C Lawton (Midleton); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Carroll (Dromina), C Garde (Lisgoold); Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), J Counihan (Watergrasshill); R Donovan (Fermoy), C Deane (Killeagh), R Dineen (Erin’s Own); C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), E O’Shea (Ballinhassig). Subs: S Coughlan (Passage) for Donovan (39), C Hanratty (Carrigaline), S Ring (Carrigtwohill) for Dineen (58), E Connolly (Dungourney) for Carroll (60), D Winters (Courcey Rovers) for TA Walsh (60+3). Referee: A Hogg (Clare).