At the end, it mightn't quite have constituted revenge for the indignity of their mauling at Limerick's hands two years ago, but Cork's victory in yesterday's Guinness Munster hurling championship first round was a satisfying result for a county without a win against anyone other than Kerry in the past six years.

In the past week, the pendulum of public expectation had swung back in Limerick's direction. A traditional eve-of-championship caution had developed in the aftermath of Cork's National League win a fortnight ago. The county has had difficulties in the recent past making League and championship rhyme - as we say in these lyrical times.

Limerick were incontestably a fading team, but under the new management of as astute a coach as Eamonn Cregan, it was thought that some of the players could give it one last thrash and exploit the youthful inexperience of their opponents.

The changes made before the throw-in had been expected. Mark Foley went centre forward, although in retrospect his presence was missed in the half-back line where his brother John was switched and struggled. In the remaining move, Shane O'Neill moved to centrefield and showed in flashes but couldn't disrupt Cork's grip.

Of the midfield trio who drove the team in the years of plenty, Gary Kirby and Mike Houlihan were shadows of their once formidable selves and only Ciaran Carey showed touches of the old form at centre back where he and Dave Clarke beside him did what they could to stem the flow of scoring chances from the Cork attack.

The fact that there was only a goal between the teams at the end is something of a distortion. With the regulation 70 minutes up, Shane O'Neill conjured up a goal which Ger Cunningham in the Cork goal could have done more to prevent and with the last play of the match, James Moran added a second to reduce the margin of defeat, if not its scale.

Whereas Cork's management were a bit irritated by these late concessions, they probably won't be too upset as late goals when a match is won can be a feature of a young team's development. Of course the fact that Cunningham was at fault for two of the goals will be more disconcerting as his lapses can hardly be ascribed to the folly of youth.

Overall, though, it was a positive display by the new League champions. They were tested in the first half and found themselves in the unaccustomed position of trailing by a reasonably substantial margin. Yet their composure wasn't rattled and they recovered strongly.

In the first half, the full-back line looked uncertain under high ball and potentially vulnerable but after the interval they raised their collective game with captain Diarmuid O'Sullivan particularly impressive, winning ball on numerous occasions and driving long, penetrating clearances up the field.

Yet again it was the dominant presence of Brian Corcoran which held the defensive unit together at centre back. He survived Mark Foley's best shots in the first half and went on to impose himself on the game, using his formidable physique and hurling to demoralise an increasingly fractured opposition.

Centrefield was unexpectedly rampant. It had been felt that Mike Houlihan's physical presence might offer some hope in the sector for Limerick but instead it was Mick Daly, the beefier half of Cork's partnership, who dominated.

Beside him Pat Ryan was a bit more subdued. Although he played his man well, his striking wasn't always what he would have wished and he will have better days.

In keeping with the reputation of the side, it was Cork's attack that inflicted the deepest cuts. All six scored from play and the by now familiar elements were all in play.

Limerick defended well at times and as has been noted, Ciaran Carey did well and picked up a lot of ball. But even he was curtailed by the switch of Kieran Morrison in from the wing.

Behind Carey, his brother Pa was pushed to cope with the physical presence of both Alan Browne and Sean O'Farrell.

It will not have escaped Clare's attention that the Cork team they will now face in the Munster semifinal is considerably different to the one they beat last year. Primary amongst the differences is the size and physical aggression of the attack.

Alan Browne has been a fixture for the last three years but he has been joined by Fergal McCormack at centre forward, Morrison on the wing and last year's under-21 Sean O'Farrell, who confirmed his growing reputation yesterday with three deftly taken points.

Buzzing around the big men, Joe Deane and Sean McGrath had another profitable afternoon. McGrath hit five points from play including a four-point spell in the opening 16 minutes. He may drift in and out of matches but when he's in, there are fireworks and when he's out, the opposition still can't take their eyes off him.

Dave Clarke played him well for periods after John Foley was switched to the other wing, but McGrath's pace and accuracy is a constant threat.

Deane was equally well shadowed by Steve McDonagh for most of the match but eventually he hit his stride and scored three points from play as well as four frees.

Limerick's best opportunity came in the second quarter when Barry Foley broke through for a goal. Cunningham hesitated in coming to Mike Galligan's ball, broken by Kirby in the 22nd minute.

Cork had just shuffled their fullforward line and trailed by 0-6 to 17 when Alan Browne struck for a trademark goal, taking Pat Ryan's free in the air and wheeling around before kicking to net.

That effectively ended Limerick's challenge and they went in at halftime facing a one-point deficit and the breeze after the break.

Limerick brought on Ger Hegarty after the interval for the ineffective Damien Quigley and held out for the third quarter, but eventually the dam burst and in the next 18 minutes Cork added eight unanswered points which settled the match beyond the reach of those late goals.

Limerick's goalkeeper Joe Quaid was lucky not to get the line near the end for a kick on the prone Morrison but referee Johnny McDonnell provided one of the few merciful touches of Limerick's day by taking no action.