Patrick Collins Incredibly brave to deny Aaron Gillane in the first-half, saved the follow-up after the whistle too, and then denied Hegarty in the second period. Puckouts were lightning quick at times, catching Limerick out. 8
Niall O’Leary Couldn’t get to grips with David Reidy in the first half and had trouble with the equally sharp Adam English, leaking 0-5 from play in total across the game. 5.5
Eoin Downey Seamus Flanagan won a bit of early ball but only took away one point before Downey got to grips with the battle. Really sound after the first 20 minutes. 7.5
Sean O’Donoghue What can you really do with Aaron Gillane? Held his ground crucially on a late long ball into the square. Otherwise, as helpless as anyone else. 6
Ciaran Joyce Started out at wing-back on Gearoid Hegarty before switching inside to try and close up the pockets that Cathal O’Neill was finding, which he did well. 6.5
Robert Downey Opened Cork’s account after a driving run down the middle. Gave them such aerial solidity under the Limerick puckout. Dropped off early on, then picked up Gearoid Hegarty to great effect. 8
Mark Coleman Tom Morrissey kept Limerick living in the first quarter but Coleman stepped up big time after the break, hurling a storm in the second half. 7.5
Tim O’Mahony Played at midfield to track Cian Lynch and was effective at it for long periods of the game, accepting that the Patrickswell man is going to break the odd big play out of the box. 6.5
STAR MAN
Darragh Fitzgibbon: Early turnover on Gearoid Hegarty signalled his intent. Completely dominated his battle with Will O’Donoghue, hitting three points from play. Boundless energy to support the play at both ends. 9
Declan Dalton Cork avoided Kyle Hayes, and thus by proxy Dalton too, in the first half, leaving him out of the game. But he started to get seen in the pockets he was occupying and made good use with two fine second half scores at a crucial time. 7
Shane Barrett Quiet up until he jinked away from Dan Morrissey and opened up the chance for Hayes’ goal. Barrett’s performance was transformed from there, hitting three points. 7.5
Seamus Harnedy Brilliant opening 20 minutes in which he got the better of Diarmaid Byrnes, hitting two of his three points in that spell. The battle evened out but still had huge influence. 7.5
Patrick Horgan Poor first half but a better second. Crossed the 700-point mark in championship the day after TJ Reid did it. Not at his best but capitalised to take home two points from play in the second half. 6.5
Alan Connolly Gave Dan Morrissey plenty of bother both on the ground and in the air in the first half, taking 0-2. Really direct running at the Limerick defence. Got just a single score off Sean Finn who quietened him a fair bit. 7.5
Brian Hayes Spot gap, go through gap seemed to be his motto. Great finish for the goal. Had 1-2 off Mike Casey in the first half and took another two points off Morrissey, one of which came off a brilliant high fetch. 8.5
Subs
Ethan Twomey Pinged for a throw ball. Stood up to the late battle with Gearoid Hegarty. 6.5
Shane Kingston Punished for a loose touch when on briefly as a first-half blood sub. Limited impact later. 6
Robbie O’Flynn Not on long enough to be rated.
Padraig Power Not on long enough to be rated.