History Makers, Three in a Row!! Limerick Answer Superb Challenge from Cody’s Cats!

John Kiely’s men knew the value of fast start against Kilkenny. If Byrnes long range free after two minutes was a settler, then Hegarty’s absolute bullet of a goal 80 seconds later was the lit fuse.

Gillane continued the momentum with a booted point when a goal looked a distinct possibility. 1-2 to no score after six minutes represented a solid start.

A TJ reid free followed by an Eoin Cody point reduced the arrears to the puck of a ball. Gillane added his second point of the game as TJ Reid responded with another free 0-3 to 1-3 after 10 mins.

Hayes landed his first point of the game while 60 seconds later Byrnes capitalised on a puck out malfunction to make it 1-5 to 0-3.

Kilkenny responded well and kept chipping away at the Limerick lead. Paddy Deegan and Mossy Keoghane closed the gap to a goal. The pattern of the first half saw Limerick edge ahead only to be pulled back.

Morrissey & Hegarty kept Limerick going while the Reids TJ (free) and Richie make it Kilkenny 0-7 Limerick 1-7 after 18 mins.

Hegarty was purring along nicely as Limerick entered somewhat of a purple patch scoring 3 of the next four points. Gillane and Flanagan adding the others while Mikey carry was the sole Kilkenny scorer that 4 minute period. Limerick 1-10 Kilkenny 0-8

Adrian Mullen and Diarmaid Byrnes swapped points before arguably the score of the half as Hegarty pointed from down on the Hogan sideline after the intervention of Hawkeye. 1-12 to 0-9. The game swung too and from for the remainder of the half.

Limerick getting their noses in front only for Kilkenny to reel them in. Of the next 11 scores, Limerick would get 5 while the cats would land 6. 1-17 to 0-16 was Limerick’s half time lead. Deserved but perilously tight.

Limerick started the half well with points from Hayes and Gillane but any sense they were causing was quickly dispelled as Kilkenny roared back with a goal from Billy Ryan on 39 mins.

The next seven minute period was frantic as Hegarty, Bynes & Gillane added scores for Kiley’s side with Mullen, Walter Walsh and Mossy Keoghan responding in kind.

Substitue John Donnelly added another score but it was Mossy Keoghan’s goal 60 seconds later sent the Kilkenny faithful wild. If Croke Park had a roof, it would have lifted.

No panic for Limerick, Morrissey (2) and Byrnes rattled of the next three scores to make it 1-25 to 2-19 but Cody’s cats are not of the fluffy variety and fought back tremendously over the next 6 minutes with TJ Reid (2 frees), Adrian Mullen and Richie Hogan levelling the score on 63 minutes.

Earlier in the week John Kiely mentioned teams throwing the kitchen sink at them all year and it was no different. Limerick dodged the Kilkenny sink and set about closing out the game. Hayes, Cathal O’Neill, Conor Boylan, Gillane (free) and Hegarty on 70 mins. Limerick 1-31 Kilkenny 2-23.

The cats had one more fight with Tommy Walsh, John Donnelly and David Blanchfield reducing the gap to just two points. Quaid went long with the last puck out and Limerick managed to keep it there for the remainder of the dying minutes. 1-31 to 2-26, three in a row and the best team in a generation.

Luimneach Abu!!