Joe Canning Baffled By Bizarre Cork Decision In Limerick Hammering

Cork's Munster championship meeting with Limerick may have been tough to call ahead of throw-in, but nobody could have expected the drubbing handed to the Rebels last Sunday.

Favourites for the All-Ireland, Cork arrived to the Gaelic Grounds in their numbers, hoping to secure their place in the Munster final.

An astonishing spectacle played out, with Limerick demolishing their provincial rivals. John Kiely's side were 2-18 to 0-9 up by half-time, a remarkable statement of intent from the Treaty County.

Though Limerick are desperate to reclaim Liam MacCarthy this year after their five-in-a-row hopes were dashed by Cork last year, there was arguably more pressure on the visitors last Sunday.

Cork came into this year's Munster championship as league champions for the first time this century and were heavily tipped to go one step further than their All-Ireland final defeat from last year.

However, the pressure was on them as they arrived at the Gaelic Grounds, having scuppered a huge lead late on in Ennis on the opening weekend and flattered to deceive in victory over Tipperary.

It was for that reason that Joe Canning could not fathom the Rebels' choice to play into the wind in the first half in Limerick.

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Writing in his column in the Irish Times this Friday, Galway hurling great Joe Canning said he was perplexed by Cork's decision to play into the wind in Limerick on Sunday.

Canning said that Cork's mindset had been exposed in defeat to Limerick, and that they had immediately handed their rivals an advantage by playing into the wind.

It was obvious that Cork were not in the same frame of mind. They brought no aggression. They were cleaned out in the air.

From what I understand, they won the toss and elected to play against the wind. Why would you hand Limerick that advantage straight from the start? The outcome of the game had a different value for Cork than it had for Limerick.

It was a strange call from Cork, and it was exposed ruthlessly as Limerick put on a hurling exhibition in the first half.

The Rebels now know that they must win against Waterford in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoímh this Sunday if they are to have any hope of reaching the Munster final. A draw against the Déise would see them through to the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-finals but would send Tipperary to the provincial decider.

Cork are still right in the mix to win the All-Ireland this year but their fans have been given something of a reality check by their early exploits in the Munster championship.