A strong second half performance paved the way for a comfortable Cork victory over Limerick in this ESB Munster MHC qualifier at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Wednesday night. Cork...0-23 Limerick..1-11 Beaten by Clare in the first round proper, the Rebels got their campaign back on track with this win which earns them a semi-final meeting with Waterford next month. However, it was only after the change of ends that they put their opponents away. Limerick began brightly with three points from Kevin Downes giving them an early advantage. Graham Mulcahy extended their lead to five points with a cracking goal, but Cork were back on level terms by the end of the first quarter, thanks largely to the impressive form of Simon O'Brien at full forward. Cork's Ciaran Sheehan then had a penalty saved and Limerick went on to lead by 1-9 to 0-10 at the interval. Following the introduction of Maurice Sexton at half-time, Cork were a transformed side and some excellent points from Daniel Roche, Paul Haughney, Sheehan and Padraig O'Shea soon had them in the driving seat. The final quarter was one-way traffic with further scores from Haughney and Simon O'Brien easing the Rebels over the finishing line. Cork - D McCarthy; E Moynihan, D Rodgers, P Honohan; L Ó Riain, P O'Shea 0-1, A Walsh 0-1; D Roche 0-1, W Egan; S O'Farrell, M Collins 0-1, C Sheehan 0-03; J O'Dwyer 0-4, S O'Brien 0-6, P Haughney 0-6. Subs - M Sexton for L Ó Riain, M Carroll for M Collins. Limerick - N Carrig; B Cleary, J O'Callaghan, K Kennedy 0-1; M Deegan, D Madden, P Begley; T Fleming, S O'Brien; N Kennedy 0-1, S Madden 0-3, G Mulcahy 1-0; K Downes 0-6, S Bulfin, E O'Sullivan. Subs - J Greaney for K Downes, M Keating for S Bulfin, D Byrne for E O'Sullivan. Ref - P Casey (Waterford). Tweet

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