Limerick 0-29 Cork 1-28
Cork shocked Limerick in front of a sold-out Croke Park to book their place in the All-Ireland final and end their five-in-a-row hopes.
Limerick were heavy favourites going into today's game despite having already lost to Cork earlier in the Championship and few expected today's encounter to match up to that Pairc Ui Chaoimh epic.
But the capacity crowd were treated to a modern classic as Cork ran out two-point winners. From the get-go it appeared this was going to be a hard fought game as the Rebels raced to a three-point lead.
Yet, in an ominous sign for the underdogs, reigning champions Limerick only needed to lift the intensity a hair to rattle off three points without reply to tie things up.
Cork, however, showed their class and stuck the first big blow of the match when Brian Hayes scored a goal and his point that followed stretched their lead to five.
Limerick, in typical fashion, responded with five points on the trot and ended up taking a two-point lead going into the break.
Cork came out of the blocks fast, scoring five of the next six points and they dominated the third quarter of the game to take a seven-point lead as they began to find their rhythm.
With just 10 minutes to go in the contest Limerick trailed by six and refused to be beaten as they closed the gap to two.
But Cork ultimately hung on to book an All-Ireland final place and face Cork on July 21.
Dowling: I’d love to get a clip of that save and show people all over the world
It takes a very good team hitting the heights to take down great champions and that's what Cork managed yesterday.
It was the first full house for an All-Ireland semi-final, which added to the sense of occasion.
But who could have predicted a game with 99 shots for scores? That is astonishing.
The Championship needed a game like it too, as the first All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday was poor enough fare.
A disappointing crowd, and a game that was exciting at the finish but low on quality.
Nobody could argue that Cork weren't full value for their win.
They were the better team on the day and fully deserved their victory.
Even watching on, the first 20 minutes nearly left you gasping for breath. It was electric, played at a frightening pace.
Match report: End of a story rather than an era for Limerick as Cork dash five-in-a-row dream
By Pat Nolan
The third quarter surge that did for so many of Limerick’s opponents over the years ultimately proved their undoing this time.
How many times have we seen it? Game opposition well in it up to half-time before being rocked by a barrage of scores after the break to turn the contest on its head.
Only this time it was Cork inflicting the punches, each one of them landing in the first 11 minutes of the second half as they hit 10 points from as many shots in that period.
It gave them a five-point lead, having trailed by two, 0-16 to 1-11 at the changeover, an advantage that stretched to seven by the 51st minute and was maintained with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.
But while Limerick recovered to a large degree and never gave in, the third quarter pummelling was too much even for them to come back from. And it came just as they seemed to have done much of the heavy lifting by outscoring Cork 0-10 to 0-3 after Brian Hayes’s 18th minute goal had seen them fall five behind.
'Hurt is going to be God awful' says John Kiely as Limerick reign ended by Cork
By Pat Nolan
John Kiely insisted that five-in-a-row pressure played no part in Limerick’s first Championship knockout in five years.
And the Limerick boss said that the pain will be “God awful” as history slipped through their fingers with Cork edging a classic All-Ireland semi-final on a 1-28 to 0-29 scoreline.
“I don’t think it had any bearing on us at all, to be honest with you,” said Kiely of the drive for five. “We felt light about all that all year. We were very committed to going after the 2024 Championship.
Cork fans name their 'unsung hero' of epic semi-final victory over Limerick
Cork fans are praising Patrick Collins as their 'unsung hero' of an epic All-Ireland semi-final victory over Limerick.
The Rebels goalkeeper pulled off some amazing saves in both halves to keep a clean sheet against the reigning All-Ireland champions.
In the 23rd minute, Limerick carved through the Cork defence and gave Aaron Gillane time and space to pick his spot.
Brian Hayes drops F-bomb on live television as he celebrates Cork victory
Cork's man-of-match Brian Hayes dropped a F-bomb on RTE as the Rebels celebrated beating Limerick to make the All-Ireland hurling final.
Hayes was immense in the Cork attack as they ended Limerick's four-year-run as All-Ireland champions.
The St Finbarr's man contributed 1-04 in a Croke Park thriller that went down to the wire.
All-Ireland final date
Cork will travel in their droves in two weeks with the All-Ireland final penciled in for July 21 when they take on Clare
Brian Hayes awarded Man of the Match
Unsurprisingly Brian Hayes is awarded man of the match with an unbelievable performance on the inside forward line. The Cork fans have their tops off in the Hill and no one is leaving the stadium. What an occasion.
An instant classic
One of the best games of hurling you will watch in your life. Cork knock out the five-in-a-row-chasing Limerick. A sold out crowd and a match deserving of the occasion.
Cork were so close to being knocked out of the competition and needed a heroic win against Limerick in Munster and upped their performance again. Limerick, to their credit, refused to be beaten. Epic stuff.
FULL TIME! Limerick 0-29 Cork 1-28
Byrnes sends one in long but Cork have it and clear it. CORK HAVE DONE IT CORK HAVE KNOCKED OUT LIMERICK AND ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL!
Limerick 0-29 Cork 1-28
Cork slow it down with the free and the seconds keep ticking. Coleman is short with the free but win Quaid's clearance and now have a sideline. They might well do this!
Limerick 0-29 Cork 1-28
A long ball in and hits off Gillane and sails across the goal and wide. Cork win a free with two minutes to go.
Limerick 0-29 Cork 1-28
Shane O'Brien puts it wide as the clock hits 70. Four minutes added time. Shane Barrett's effort hits the post and Quaid saves the rebound!
Aidan O'Connor hits a wide.
Limerick 0-28 Cork 1-28
This is an epic. Some of the defending from Limerick is heroic and they really don't want to lose this. Adam English with a sensational score
Limerick 0-25 Cork 1-27
Darragh O'Donovan gets a yellow card and this feels like an important free for Cork as the clock ticks towards 64 minutes.
Patrick Horgan stands over it and slots it over the bar
Limerick 0-25 Cork 1-26
Brian Hayes is shown a yellow card. Aaron Gillane scores and now four in it with 62 minutes gone
Limerick 0-23 Cork 1-26
Weird enough long range free which nearly goes into goal but O'Brien gets the ball and slots it over.
Limerick 0-21 Cork 1-24
Shane O'Brien comes on for Seamus Flanagan. Aaron Gillane's free is checked by Hawkeye but it is over.
Limerick 0-19 Cork 1-21
The drama here is unreal. All so scrappy and then Limerick are in for a goal but it's saved and Dalton then scores.
