Half-time plea answered as Cork can now focus on Croker

The call at half-time by interim manager John Cleary was answered by the Cork footballers, with the Rebels upping the ante on the resumption to get by Limerick in Sunday's All-Ireland football qualifier at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Even though Cork led at the break by a point, it was Billy Lee's side who showed more of a dash, yet a few bad wides undermined much of their good work. On the resumption, the home side, courtesy of goals from Cathal O'Mahony and Brian Hurley (pen), eventually edged home by five points.

Limerick, however, remained competitive, with a cracking Brian O'Donovan goal giving the hosts a few anxious moments before Hurley converted from the spot.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport afterwards, Cleary reflected on a game of two halves.

"We were disappointed at half time as we didn't play at all with any intensity and let Limerick run at us," he said.

"The plea at half-time was for us to up our game, if we don't, Limerick were going to run through us. We did up the ante and we did up our intensity and we got the two big scores, the two goals, and that was the difference in the end."

Cathal O'Mahony with the breakthrough goal in this game as Cork move ahead of a tiring Limerick. Live now on @rte2 and @rteplayer, highlights on #sundaygame at 9.30pm pic.twitter.com/lwxigjWIhO

A black card for Limerick's Gordon Brown did soften their threat in the second period. Cork capitalised, kicking 1-03 without replay.

"We got important scores off the back of that black card," Cleary added. We all know what Limerick can do to you and they got a cracking goal after that. I think Kevin O'Donovan and Sean Powter were out of position. But than we put a great move together, great run by Kevin (O'Donovan) and he was taken down. Brian (Hurley) tucked