Cork reach All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals after seeing off Limerick

Cork qualified for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals thanks to victory over Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.

It took second half Cathail O'Mahony and Brian Hurley (penalty) goals for Cork to finally see off their dogged opponents and book a place in the last eight of the championship.

Limerick proved more than a match for Cork during an entertaining tie but the winners’ clinical finishing got them over the line despite losing Paul Walsh to a red card.

Interim manager John Cleary made one change to their starting line-up with Míchéal Aodh Martin returning in goal to replace Chris Kelly. As for Limerick, Billy Lee made four alterations. Jim Liston and Gordon Brown began in defence with Pádraig De Brúin and Robbie Burke added to the visitors' attack.

Two Sherlock scores had Cork in front early on but Limerick hit back with Gordon Brown, Robbie Burke and Adrian Enright efforts making it 0-03 to 0-02 after 10 minutes.

The hosts lacked spark and Limerick took full advantage with Hugh Bourke and another Enright effort keeping the visitors ahead following a terrific John O'Rourke score.

Both sides were guilty of kicking a succession of poor wides as Sherlock (45’) and Enright exchanged points.

Cork were reliant on Steven Sherlock for the bulk of their scores and the St Finbarr’s forward levelled matters for a fifth time with a superb brace of points after half an hour.

That made it 0-06 apiece but Limerick continued to cause the Rebels issues every time they entered the final third as Cian Sheehan cancelled out an Eoghan McSweeney effort. Dan Dineen rattled the Limerick crossbar with a stinging effort but was correctly adjudged to have picked the ball off the ground. It proved a rare goal-scoring opportunity.

Sherlock