The agility and quickness of movement just isn’t there anymore. We have no raw pace either.
I don’t think there’s any comparison to be made with Cody’s Kilkenny either which was more of a revolving team with Cody in the Fergie role.
I’m not sure kiely is the type who’ll face into cutting our lads. They seem like one group and it’s good in the way.
Reading some of the way the Kilkenny lads were cut at the end never sounded great to me.
I was at that particular match
Unfortunately
On a bus with 55 Derry hurlers 
To say I got flagged was an understatement!
Cunts refused me drink on returning home cos o wouldn’t take my Cork top off
He looked washed out
Thought U said revenant 
Brian Hayes top-scored for his final-bound Cork side with 1-4 from play.
SWEET SUCCESS: Cork’s Darragh Fitzgibbon celebrates. Pic: Bryan Keane, Inpho
SUN, 07 JUL, 2024 - 20:17
EOGHAN CORMICAN
1 PATRICK COLLINS
Limerick got 0-5 off his puck-outs in the opening half, but that had less to do with him and far more to do with the inability of his colleagues to win breaking ball in Diarmaid Byrnes and Declan Hannon’s patch.
His restarts clicked and found space in the third quarter, Cork finding five white flags off his first seven second-half puck-outs. Throw in two saves to deny Gillane and Hegarty and his summer renaissance continues. 8
2 NIALL O’LEARY
How crucial was his aerial win over Adam English on 72 minutes and then to draw the free off Gearóid Hegarty. Even if Mark Coleman’s subsequent free was short, O’Leary’s actions relieved a Cork defence bombarded. Assisted first half Séamus Harnedy point.
Was also involved in the creation of Cork’s 26th point when soloing through the centre. David Reidy took him for three points, but Reidy’s withdrawal on 54 minutes told you who won this duel. 8
3 EOIN DOWNEY
Block down on Seamus Flanagan in the early minutes set the tone. Flanagan was the first Limerick hurler whipped on 52 minutes. Assisted for a Shane Barrett second-half point. Fine, fine Croke Park debut. 8
4 SEÁN O’DONOGHUE
Comprehensively won this duel at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This latest dance went the way of the hurler of the year. But for uncharacteristic sloppiness, Gillane’s total from play off O’Donoghue would have been a great deal more than 0-6. 6
5 TIM O’MAHONY
His job was to follow Cian Lynch, which he did diligently and which took him out to midfield for the most part. Lynch’s limited playmaking success wasn’t all due to O’Mahony, but he can rightfully claim a chunk of the credit. Produced a lifting block on Hegarty that led to Declan Dalton’s point and a three-point Cork advantage on 42 minutes. 7
6 ROB DOWNEY
On four minutes, he accepted a short restart, sallied up the field and pointed. No bad way to mark your return after missing the quarter-final through illness. Spent plenty of the first half in his own Limerick-free island and was not daunted by the unexpected sweeping role. 8
Robert Downey of Cork in action against Aaron Gillane of Limerick. Pic: Daire Brennan, Sportsfile
7 MARK COLEMAN
Struck an early white flag. Alternated on Hegarty and Morrissey throughout the opening half. Morrissey was his permanent partner in the second period. Grew, as Cork did, in the third quarter. Full of resilience when charging up the Hogan Stand sideline late on. 7
8 CIARÁN JOYCE
Another who went unfazed by making their Croke Park debut in front of a sell-out audience. The confidence management have in the Castlemartyr youngster was reflected in the Gearóid Hegarty brief he was given. Started as he meant to go on. One six minutes, he won a Limerick puck-out, was then fouled by Hego, with Deccie Dalton converting. 8
9 DARRAGH FITZGIBBON
Just shaded by Hayes for Cork’s outstanding player. Three from play. But that was hardly half the story. Also provided three assists and was fouled for a converted free. That’s 0-7 that came off him. Roamed into unmanned space on Kyle Hayes’ flank as an effective decoy runner and target off puck-outs in the third quarter. 9
10 DECLAN DALTON
Only three of Cork’s 22 first-half puck-outs went down his side. He was peripheral because of Cork’s determination to keep the sliotar away from Kyle Hayes. His 21st minute pass was intercepted by David Reidy for a Tom Morrissey point. And Aaron Gillane’s saved goal chance came from him being overturned. Countering that were a pair of frees and another pair from play. 7
11 SHANE BARRETT
Nailed on for the No.11 All-Star. Three from play, including one under Declan Hannon’s nose from a long puck-out. Hit the post for a fourth at the death. Assisted for 1-1 in the opening half. His confidence to roam and ravage is offering Cork an extra dimension on the flanks, particularly on Harnedy’s side where the two are coalescing so effectively. 8
Limerick’s Cian Lynch and Shane Barrett of Cork. Pic: Bryan Keane, Inpho
12 SÉAMUS HARNEDY
Somehow managed to better his showing against the slain champions from mid-May. Threw over four from play. Provided the assist for Fitzgibbon’s second half opener. Improved his showing as a restart target in the third quarter. 8
13 PATRICK HORGAN
Took him a while to get going and took him a while to reach and then break the 700-point mark. Will be disappointed with first half free sent wide, the same as he will his saved goal chance at the death. Usually sharper than that. Contributed three frees, two from play. 6
14 ALAN CONNOLLY
His sixth minute point was his first shot at the target since his hat-trick exploits against Tipp way back on May 19. Hit side netting 13th minute in. Looked to have provided the assist for Brian Hayes’ second goal but was deemed to have fouled possession.
Work-rate key when helping to turnover Hannon and then point late in the first half. Back to scoring ways with 0-3, although still looking to swell his four-goal championship tally. 7
15 BRIAN HAYES
Where to begin. Awesome. The semi-final bolter that Irish Examiner columnist Seánie McGrath had predicted Cork would need to win this semi-final. 1-4 from play. Second goal was disallowed. Fouled for a second half free. Provided Cork’s last score on 64 minutes when fetching a Harnedy delivery and splitting the posts. 9
SUBS: Ethan Twomey, Shane Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn, and Pádraig Power were all rolled off the bench, but none exerted any notable impact, which will be a slight concern for the final.
Twomey was penalised for throwing possession - very unlucky to be singled out given the rampantness of this offence throughout - and Gillane converted.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
Everyone in Croke Park knew from early on that Cork were set to defy history
’We’d get confident after winning tiddlywinks’ - Ryan admits job on to quell Cork hype
Brian Hayes: Cork deserve place in All-Ireland final
MORE IN THIS SECTION
Mackin stars as Armagh see off Mayo to book semi-final spot
’We’d get confident after winning tiddlywinks’ - Ryan admits job on to quell Cork hype
Carried out on their shields: how Limerick’s bravehearts rated
[
](Everyone in Croke Park knew from early on that Cork were set to defy history)
It was great to see Dermot Desmond at the action yesterday.
Id have Limerick as favourites in any game still, but maybe you’re right. They looked a bit tired
You are nearly right.
The biggest Intervention was by a Tipp player. But it was Ronan Maher on Peter Casey
Hurting real bad…. Embarrassing really
Morning kid.
Not at all just pointing out we were missing a key player yesterday that might have gotten us over the line.
However availability is a key factor in ability. So it is was it is. We fought the battle and we are out.
Again the team could have meekly raised the white flag with 10 mins to go but not in their character which Limerick people can be immensely proud of . Driving home last night i was quite Zen on it all.
Oh and in case you think I am blaming Maher I’m not. It was an accident.
An intervention…… ffs 
Aboy Buzz! No Micras to fix this morning?
They have every chance of winning another one. Simply because there aren’t many great teams around. Cork might turn into one but it remains to be seen, they’ve already been beaten twice this year. Galway need a rebuild, Tipp 2 years away at a minimum, KK struggling for the quality individuals they had no bother finding for 20 years. Clare will need to bring 7-8 starters in over the next 2 years. Not a huge amount to be afraid of.
Correct,Cork look like they might win a few depending on what happens Limerick over the winter.
Timing is good for Cork. They’ll be in the hunt for the next 4-5 years.
Cork totally avoided Kyle Hayes’s wing/channel in the first half. The Examiner had it this morning that only 3 of 22 puckouts went down that side in the first half. Limerick also struggled to build the play getting the ball out to him. When he went to 6, Cork targetted Hannon at 7 loads getting joy with POs there and points from Dalton and Fitzgibbon.
Gillane was brilliant yesterday but will rue his missed goal chances, especially the 1st where he planted his feet. Limerick have never been a prolific goal scoring team. A lot of their goals originate from opposition errors rather than them being the creators. The Cork and Clare round robin games this year being a case in point.
Cork could put a serious run together over the next few years.
Leinster has fuck all in it.
Kilkenny will always give everything but reliance on old legs and not sure what style to adopt.
Galway- miles off it and age profile not great
Munster
Clare - will need to replace 5 or 6 key players
Tipp- a shambles under their supposed dream management
Waterford - have wasted a generational team with egotistical managers.
Limerick- starting to slide.
Cork - will reasistically only need to replace Horgan and Harneddy over the next 3 years. They could put 3 together before we know it .
I thought limerick went for goals a bit too early when there was a handy point to be taken