Munster U20: Cork canter home, Kerry survive Clare scare

Cork 2-14 Limerick 0-06

Cork will contest their 13th consecutive Munster U20 football final as they held Limerick scoreless from play with an all-too-powerful performance.

The change of venue to Páirc Uí Chaoimh allowed Cork to showcase some of their best in attack too, with Hugh O'Connor and Niall Kelly getting the goals. Olan Corcoran and Ross Corkery, son of Cork and Nemo Rangers legend Colm, were others to work the scoreboard.

The impact of Kelly and Corkery in running up 1-03 off the bench will add to the competition for places in the short turnaround to next Monday’s final where Cork will bid to join Kerry atop the roll of honour on 29 titles.

Cork held the visitors without a score for 41 minutes of play from the 7th minute onward and it took them only 25 seconds to register their first with a towering kick from senior star Tommy Walsh.

Richard O’Sullivan, named to start at 12, lined out beside Walsh at right half-back but that didn’t hamper his scoring threat, kicking two of Cork’s early points.

He immediately followed that up by forcing a turnover at the other end which led to Cork’s first goal chance of the game.

O’Connor’s gliding run created the gap and Tom Cunningham’s power-packed shot crunched down off the crossbar but on the wrong side of the goalline. Corcoran’s follow-up fisted attempt was gathered by Craig MacInnes.

Limerick opened up Cork twice either side of that goal chance. Darragh Murray got in along the endline with ease but Thomas O’Mahony got back to make the block. Later, captain Jacob O’Driscoll produced a timely tackle to deny David O’Shaughnessy.

But Limerick, after two tap-over frees from O’Shaughnessy and Diarmuid Ryan, wouldn’t score again for the final 24 minutes of the half as they failed to