INCREDIBLE LIMERICK WIN FOURTH SUCCESSIVE ALL-IRELAND TITLE

Limerick dominated the second period, outscoring the Cats, 0-19 to 0-5 after their second goal on 41 minutes.

Limerick made history as only the fourth side to ever win four successive All-Ireland senior hurling titles as they defeated Kilkenny 0-30 to 2-15 in a mesmerising Croke Park display.

After trailing by three after a lacklustre second half, Kiely’s men found their groove in the second period to claim more history.

Limerick dominated the second period, outscoring the Cats, 0-19 to 0-5 after their second goal on 41 minutes.

Diarmaid Byrnes was in inspired form during that run, finishing with a tally of 0-8 (7f) but it was Peter Casey that stole the show with five alone in the second half.

An Eoin Cody goal was the difference at the half, the Ballyhale man capitalising on a loose ball in the Limerick defence.

Limerick’s intent in the opening minutes was clear and that was to find Aaron Gillane from deep. But twice Kilkenny survived before Paddy Deegan opened the scoring.

The Shannonsiders reverted to a shorter style of play then with Cian Lynch getting them off the mark and Diarmaid Byrnes firing over a free.

However, Limerick had a couple of chances go begging with Kilkenny making them pay, Eoin Cody pouncing on a loose ball from a long delivery and finding the corner of the net for a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.

Tom Phelan fired over a brace either side of a Gillane free too leave the goal between the sides at the quarter hour mark.

Eoin Murphy launched over a huge free to stretch the lead but Byrnes was equal with a placed ball of his own. Gillane then got off the mark from play after a fine ball from Kyle Hayes. The Patrickswell man then had an effort on goal but it dribbled wide.

TJ Reid hit over his first free on 23 minutes but a minute later it could have been level, a free from Gillane struck the post and flashed across the goal with Tommy Walsh getting it clear. Reid had his second straight after with his brother Richie getting in on the act then, 1-7 to 0-5. It was a six point game when TJ popped over a minute later.

Gillane ended a 12 minute wait for a score with his second free of the afternoon. Lynch cut the gap to four but at the other end Eoin Cody could have stretched the Kilkenny advantage as his shot sailed wide of Nickie Quaids goal.

For Limerick, David Reidy got off the mark but TJ was on hand to hit back. Limerick finished the half with an exceptional Tom Morrissey score that involved Barry Nash, Hayes and Lynch to leave just the three in it.

Into the second half, Phelan had a great chance at goal but Byrnes found a vital hook to prevent the danger. The Patrickswell man then kicked off the second half scoring with a free and repeated the trick to make it a one point game.

Phelan did get off the mark in the second period, clipping over his third to give Kilkenny a cushion of sorts with a half hour to play. Phelan then set up Paddy Deegan for Kilkenny’s second goal, 2-10 to 0-11. The ball store through the net such was the power of his shot.

But Limerick hit back through Peter Casey and Nash to leave jus there between them. Gearoid Hegarty’s first effectively cut out the goal, making it 0-14 to 2-10 after 45 minutes.

Byrnes and Gillane ensured parity just two minutes later as they made it five in a row for the Treaty. Reid briefly restored Kilkenny’s lead but Byrnes equalised for the third time and Gillane gave Limerick a first two-point cushion on 52 minutes. Byrnes then launched one over from his own 45 before taking his tally to eight, 0-21 to 2-11.

TJ stopped the rot and John Donnelly then fired over to leave two in it. Hegarty and Adrian Mullen traded scores with Casey replicating his incredible effort from the sideline to move Limerick three up.

Kyle Hayes made that four with ten to play before a quick fire Casey double as he took his own tally to four. Cathal O’Neill scored a scorcher from the bench and the gap was suddenly seven.

With Kilkenny searching for a goal at the other end, O’Neill and Casey added to their tallies with Limerick running out comfortable winners for more history.

Scorers for Limerick: Diarmaid Byrnes (0-8, 7f), Peter Casey (0-5), Aaron Gillane (0-5, 3f), Cian Lynch, Cathal O’Neill, David Reidy, Gearoid Hegarty (0-2), Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash (0-1)

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid (0-7f), Eoin Cody and Paddy Deegan (1-0), Tom Phelan (0-3), John Donnelly, Adrian Mullen , Richie Reid, Eoin Murphy (f) (0-1)

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Mike Casey, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Darragh O’Donovan, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey.

Subs: Cathal O’Neill for Tom Morrissey (56), Graeme Mulcahy for Flanagan (62), Conor Boylan for Hegarty (69), Barry Murphy for O’Donovan (71), Aaron Costelloe for Mike Casey (73)

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