Another Munster derby awaits Limerick footballers this Sunday in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
After a very strong league and Munster Championship campaign, Billy Lee’s footballers bid for an All-Ireland quarter final spot this Sunday as they take on Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Both sides have lost to Kerry in Munster this summer, Cork in the semi-finals while Limerick were defeated in the decider.
A prize for the winner this Sunday would be a place in the quarter-finals where they would be paired with either Dublin, Galway or Derry.
Cork have had the chance to bounce back from the defeat as they beat Louth but Limerick have already picked up a pair of wins this year.
The fixture between Limerick and Cork is heavily favoured in one side with the Shannonsiders holding just a pair of wins over the last half century.
The most recent of those came in 2003, but will count for little on Sunday with Lee’s men twice falling to the Rebels since 2019.
And ahead of Sunday’s game, we look back on the last five championship meetings of the Munster rivals.
Cork 0-16 : 0-11 Limerick AET (All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 4)
24 July 2010 in the Gaelic Grounds
Cork toppled Limerick in extra-time of the All-Ireland Qualifiers at Páirc na nGael to make it three wins over the Shannonsiders in as many years.
Against the eventual All-Ireland champions, Limerick showed great character in the first half as the sides went into the break level at 0-5 apiece.
Cork came out of the gates in the second half with two points as their momentum became increasingly visible as they held a four point lead approaching the final whistle.
In injury time though, under a dropping ball Alan O’Connor fouled John Galvin and Collins nailed the penalty before sub Conor Fitzgerald tied the game to force the additional 20 minutes.
Extra time began with both sides misfiring, Donncha O’Connor’s two points were the only scores before the turnaround.
A booming free from the 45 by goalkeeper Brian Scanlon got Limerick feeling positive, but Cork had the upper hand, and a beautiful Patrick Kelly point settled them before Ian Ryan’s late point made things tight
However, it was Goulding’s free that clinched it in the end for Cork who would go on to end their All-Ireland famine.
Cork 3-17 : 0-8 Limerick (Munster Senior Football Championship quarter-final)
25 May 2013 in the Gaelic Grounds
Three first half goals proved key as Cork eased past Limerick into the Munster semi-final.
Cork’s Brian Hurley, John O’Rourke and Pearse O’Neill hit three goals in seven minutes before the break, which resulted in 35 minutes of cruise control after the restart.
Yet the Rebels failed to punish some slack defending from Limerick, as three good goal opportunities were left unconverted early on.
Two splendidly struck dead balls from Damien Cahalane settled Cork and despite early scores from Ger Collins and Seanie Buckley indicating promise from the Treaty men, Cork soon took hold of the tie with their trio of goals.
Three half-time changes from Horan failed to change his side’s fortunes as Cork began to focus on improving their tally in the points column.
Daniel Goulding hit three points from play, and Paul Kerrigan also got in on the act with two fine scores as Limerick tired.
Limerick 0-10 : 2-12 Cork (All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 2B)
9 July 2016 in Semple Stadium
Cork outclassed Limerick in Semple Stadium to end their season and John Brudair’s reign as manager.
Cork cruised to victory over Limerick thanks to goals from Peter Kelleher and captain Paul Kerrigan. Kerrigan was Cork’s top scorer with a haul of 1-3, while Michael Collins added five points from play as Peadar Healy’s charges secureed an eight-point win.
Alan O’Connor dovetailed well with Ian Maguire and the pair provided the platform for victory, with Kerrigan and Collins buzzing up front. Cork were 1-6 to 0-4 clear at half-time, with Kelleher netting at the second attempt in the 14th minute.
Cork could have had more first half goals but Colm O’Neill’s penalty was well saved by Limerick keeper Donal O’Sullivan while Kelleher palmed an effort off the crossbar and Kerrigan pushed his shot wide after cutting through.
Cork were 0-3 to 0-0 clear before Darragh Treacy put Limerick on the scoreboard, John Brudair’s charges wouldn’t score again for 17 minutes and Cork took over to lead by 1-5 to 0-1. Despite having the breeze for the second half, Limerick remained on the back-foot as Kerrigan racked up a brace of points.
Kelleher forced another great save from O’Sullivan but Cork still led by eight points on a couple of occasions, with Limerick only getting as close as six in the second half as their stop start season came to an abrupt end.
Cork 3-18 : 0-6 Limerick (Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final)
4 June 2019 in Pairc Ui Rinn
Limerick missed out on a first Munster final place in nine years as an electric Cork put them to the sword early on in Pairc Ui Rinn as Ronan McCarthy’s side dominated throughout their provincial semi-final.
With three goals in the first 14 minutes, two from Brian Hurley and one from Ruairí Deane, they sealed a commanding position as they enjoyed a 3-8 to 0-2 half-time lead.
The Treatymen rued a goal chance inside the first minute which went begging when midfielder Tommie Childs drove forward from the throw-in, finding Seán McSweeney. The corner-forward’s low shot struck the post and then rebounded off the back of Cork goalkeeper Mark White but ball looped up off the crossbar.
The visitors wouldn’t get any more chances to seize the upper hand and Cork took the lead with a free from Mark Collins, the first of his nine points, before Hurley found the net with a good low finish following Deane’s pass. The same partnership combined a minute later for a second goal to put Cork in firm control.
The lead stood at 2-4 to 0-0 before Deane added another goal, well set-up by debutant Eoghan McSweeney, who finished with three points. Cork had endured 12 minutes without a score, including a missed penalty as Hurley’s effort struck the post, and Limerick got off the mark with a pair of Séamus O’Carroll points.
However, the 15-point interval advantage remained healthy.
Three more Collins points on the resumption extended the advantage and Cork continued to add to their tally, with Ian Maguire, Matthew Taylor and sub Stephen Sherlock all scoring.
Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan kicked three second-half points from long-range dead balls, but Cork finished well to enjoy a 21-point margin at the end.
Cork 1-16 : 0-11 Limerick
10 July 2021 in the Gaelic Grounds
Cork saw off a promising Limerick challenge as an early goal siffled Billy Lee’s men who fell in a third successive Munster semi-final.
Gordon Browne got Limerick off the mark directly from the throw in but Cork’s response was emphatic as John O’Rourke found the net in a scruffy finish.
The goal was a double blow as Limerick also lost joint captain and goalie following a goal line collision.
Limerick did reply well to the set back with scores from Robbie and Hugh Bourke leaving it 0-3 to 1-2 at the first waterbreak.
Bourke reduced the gap to one but Cork hit their groove with Sean Powter in particular impressive as he made scoring contributions from corner back as Cork moved into a 1-6 to 0-4 half time lead.
Cork had the first score of the second half before Danny Neville got off the mark. Brian Hurley responded for the visitors but scores from Hugh Bourke and Aaron O’Sullivan kept Limerick in touch.
Neville reduced the deficit to four but Cork replied with a brace to maintain their half time lead into the final waterbreak.
Iain Corbett got in on the scoring act but Limerick couldn’t push on as it was Cork that found the needed scores to secure a fifth successive Munster final berth.
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