In a dramatic turn of events at Croke Park yesterday, Cork ended Limerick’s quest for a fifth consecutive All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title.
The thrilling semi-final saw Cork emerge victorious with a narrow two-point win, finishing 1-28 to 0-29. The key moment came in the first half when Brian Hayes found the back of the net.
Cork will now face Clare in the All-Ireland final, marking a repeat of the 2013 decider. In that memorable encounter, the Banner County triumphed after a replay, leaving Cork with unfinished business to settle. This year’s final promises to be just as thrilling, with both teams eager to claim the coveted title.
In the other semi-final clash at Croke Park, Clare edged out Kilkenny in another gripping encounter. The match ended 24 points to 2-16 in Clare’s favor. Kilkenny held a five-point lead at halftime, bolstered by two goals, but they couldn’t sustain their performance in the second half.
Kilkenny’s manager, Derek Lyng, expressed his disappointment and analyzed where things went wrong for the Cats. “We were in a strong position after we got the second goal and we didn’t kick on, we should have,” Lyng said. “We tried to make a few changes to get a spark back into us but the momentum was with Clare, and the reality of it is they won all the battles.”
Lyng highlighted the effectiveness of Clare’s play in the second half. “They were attacking it better, they were in front of their man, and they were winning all the battles around the pitch. We struggled on the back of that. They deserved it in the second half,” he acknowledged.
