Should we give the McCarthy Cup to Limerick now after Rebels rout?

Inside Track with John McIntyre

LIMERICK hurlers have hardened in the betting to land their fourth All-Ireland title in five years after again wiping the floor with Cork in the Munster Championship at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday. For the remaining contenders who have genuine hopes of lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2022, the champions’ power show must have made for demoralising viewing.

After a difficult National League campaign in which their only win came over struggling Offaly and an increasing spotlight on their indiscipline, Limerick put all that behind them in spectacular fashion, crushing the Rebels by 11 points and confirming their status as the team to beat in this year’s championship.

When you think that Cork had 1-2 on the board before Limerick had managed a score and also reeled off the opening four points of the second-half, it is a measure of Limerick’s overall mastery that they still carried the day in a canter, with wing back Diarmuid Byrnes leading the way with three cracking points from play.

After their recent league final loss to Waterford and last year’s All-Ireland final hammering, Cork would have been men on a mission last Sunday, but despite no shortage of commitment and great starts to poor halves, they were just overwhelmed by the finish. They had no response to Limerick’s quality, power and physique.

Cork also paid a heavy price for trying to work the ball through the lines. Most of the Limerick players are imposing physical figures and they thrived in forcing one turnover after the next. Looking at the Rebels’ experience on Sunday, it’s pointless trying to build attacks from the back . . . just get the ball as quickly and as far away from your own posts as possible.

After their troubles in the league, Limerick ought to have been rattled by Shane Kingston’s piercing drive to their net inside 15 seconds, but they were utterly unflustered and two opening half goals from the marauding Kyle Hayes, who can seemingly thrive anywhere the management put him, and Aaron Gillane showed the champions were back in the zone.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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