Three-goal Kilkenny KO Limerick in league semi-final
Limerick Scoring Of Hurling Moran/sportsfile Third Tj League After Final Goal Semi Against His Picture: Reid Allianz Celebrates Brendan During The Division Kilkenny Side's 1
A first knockout fixture defeat in five years for Limerick. As was the case in 2019, it was Kilkenny who again bested them and again knocked them out.
The lasting effects of this rare Limerick loss are likely to be nil and zero for John Kiely’s group. If anything, it’ll sharpen and refocus the minds that require sharpening and refocusing.
A host of their leading figures - Lynch, Hannon, Gillane, and Hegarty - were withdrawn well before the finish. While the quartet were far from impactful, if Limerick were absolutely desperate to peg back their opponents, then these men are left on the field.
It captured the champions’ sideline attitude as much as it did the off-colour attitude of those inside the white lines.
For Kilkenny, avoiding the lasting effects of a fourth consecutive knockout defeat to Limerick in the space of 20 months was far more important than any progression to the League decider in a fortnight.
This result will have done their morale and self-confidence no harm at all.
Backed by a billowing breeze at throw-in, they turned around 3-6 to 1-6 in front. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh registered the opening point to cut the difference to five. And when Eoin Cody walked for a second yellow and a slap on Declan Hannon on 37 minutes, the scene was set for Limerick to launch an overhauling effort.
It never came.
Six placed-ball efforts from the stick of TJ Reid between the 42nd minute and hour mark meant 14-man Kilkenny answered each and every white flag from the Treaty.
Adrian Mullen’s 50th minute effort was their sole point from play during this period. It was only one of three Kilkenny second-half points from play. By any metric, that’s a low count. Here, it was ample.
Their numerical disadvantage was wiped on 56 minutes. Peter Casey was shown red for a swing at Paddy Deegan.
Limerick’s defence was unusually unstable throughout the opening half. Chaotic rather than in charge. Frazzled and firefighting rather than frank and firm.
Kilkenny finished the half with three green flags. They had two chances at a fourth. Nickie Quaid, twice in immediate succession, kept out the respective drives of Mullen and Reid. Add in a Billy Ryan fumbled half chance at the beginning of the half and the picture becomes obvious of a Limerick full-back line on the backfoot.
Despite hurling into the elements, Limerick opened smarter. They had 1-2 inside the opening four minutes.
Half-back Cathal O’Neill was the source for their opening 1-1. He was twice fouled. Gillane converted the first free. The second, from further back, was played crossfield, Cillian Buckley spilled, and Aaron Gillane buried.
O’Neill then charged forward to clip their second point. Across the remaining 32 minutes of the half, Limerick managed four points and nine wides.
Kilkenny saw Limerick’s 1-2 and raised them 2-3. Route one hurling served them well. Simple, but effective.
TJ Reid (free) had them off the mark just shy of nine minutes. Within two minutes, they had 2-2 and the lead.
Jordan Molloy caught the ensuing restart from Reid’s free and returned it in the direction of the Limerick posts. Eoin Cody collected and clinically dispatched.
Paddy Deegan supplied the delivery for their second. Eoin Cody again collected. And while his latest shot was saved, Luke Hogan scooped in the rebound.
Where they might have had a third six minutes later owed to a loose Adam English pass intercepted. It was a strange and strong characteristic of Limerick’s first half play. There was a carelessness to how they used possession. Even Gillane was off target with two fairly run-of-the-mill frees.
Goal number three to establish the six-point buffer they carried with them to the break arrived on 29 minutes. Deegan again had the delivery. TJ climbed above Aaron Costello and, well, you know the rest.
Kilkenny refused to yield thereafter. Evidence to the rest that the green giant can be got at.
TJ Reid (1-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65); B Drennan (0-1 free, 0-1 ‘65), A Mullen (0-3 each); E Cody, L Hogan (1-0 each); C Buckley, B Ryan, M Keoghan (0-1 each).
A Gillane (1-5, 0-3 frees); T Morrissey (0-2 frees), D Reidy (free), C O’Neill (0-2 each); D Byrnes (0-1 free), G Hegarty, D Ó Dálaigh, P Casey (0-1 each).
E Murphy; S Murphy, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, P Deegan, C Buckley; C Kenny, J Molloy; A Mullen, J Donnelly, B Ryan; L Hogan, TJ Reid, E Cody.
Subs: R Reid for Blanchfield (35-HT temporary); R Reid for Buckley (HT); M Keoghan for Hogan (45); E Wall for Ryan (temporary, 51); D Corcoran for Deegan (56-59, temporary); B Drennan for TJ Reid (59); T Clifford for Donnelly (68); K Blanchfield for Kenny (70).
N Quaid; B Nash, S Finn, A Costello; D Byrnes, D Hannon, C O’Neill; W O’Donoghue, C Lynch; T Morrissey, A English, G Hegarty; P Casey, A Gillane, D Ó Dálaigh.
Subs: D Reidy for English (HT); C Boylan for Lynch (55); S Flanagan for Gillane (58); M Quinlan for Hannon (60); A O’Connor for Hegarty (67).
J Owens (Wexford).