Cork left it late but eventually finished strongly to beat Limerick by 0-17 to 1-9 in Division 1A of the NFL at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. The result means the Rebel County will play in Division Two next year, while their Munster rivals slip two grades to Division Three. Cork started well with a Conor McCarthy point from play but Micheal Reidy replied with a converted free. James Masters slotted a 30-metre free between the posts to re-establish the Rebels' advantage. The next two points went to Limerick before Sean Kiely saved a penalty from Kevin O'Sullivan to keep the Shannonsiders' lead intact. Reidy and O'Sullivan traded scores as the visitors remained one point ahead, 0-4 to 0-3. Cork levelled and the side were on level terms a total of five times during a disappointing first half. It was 0-7 apiece before Masters clipped over an injury-time free to give the Leesiders the slenderest of interval cushions. In the third minute of the second half, Limerick goaled from the penalty spot via Reidy, but Masters replied with a Cork point two minutes later. Proceedings struggled to rise above the mundane and Cork led by 0-12 to 1-8 with nine minutes left. Limerick had lost John Galvin through injury early in the second half. In the last quarter, the winners outscored their opponents by 0-7 to 0-1. Daniel Goulding and Masters landed a brace each. Limerick managed just 1-2 in the second half; with the goal coming from the penalty spot. Tweet

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