By Clem Ryan
It wasn't a great game, but Cork did what they had to do to come away with a Munster Football Championship win against Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh today.
Just six minutes into this game, and with the score at two points each, a flowing Cork move initiated by Noel O'Leary to Derek Kavanagh ended with James Masters blasting to the net from close range to give his side some breathing space.
Masters brought his tally to 1-03 one minute later; but they wouldn’t score again for 29 minutes.
Limerick responded with two points from Michael Reidy and John Cooke to make it 1-03 to 0-05 after 20 minutes.
The football then deteriorated and neither team managed a score until the 36th minute when Masters brought his and Cork's total to 1-04.
One minute later, wing back Noel O'Leary powered through the Limerick defence; his shot was brilliantly saved by John Kiely, but O'Leary followed up and fisted the rebound to the net to send Cork in leading by a very flattering 2-04 to 0-05.
That goal knocked the stuffing out of the Limerick challenge. They only added two Michael Reidy frees in the second half, while Cork scored ten, the last seven without reply.
James Masters scored 1-07 in total being once again Cork's outstanding forward.
Cork learned little about the state of their Championship challenge, but they did what they had to do and will next face Tipperary on 3 June.
