League hopes ended as Cats sink Limerick

Limerick 0-20
Kilkenny 0-29

A disjointed and under-par Limerick fell to their second defeat in three Allianz League outings, losing out by nine points to a fired up Kilkenny at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

The result means that Limerick cannot reach the top two of the Division’s table, and it renders next weeks Wexford clash a dead rubber. The result puts Tipperary into the League final, where they will face Cork or Galway, while Clare and Wexford, who were likely to be relegated anyway, are now confirmed as Division 1B teams for 2026.

Limerick were unable to call upon Aaron Gillane and Diarmuid Byrnes while Darragh O’Donovan and Declan Hannon continue to work on their fitness ahead of April’s championship start. John Kiely had to do without Gearoid Hegarty and Barry Murphy, both of whom were named to start earlier in the week.

The final margin of nine points came after a late Kilkenny flurry, but also after they dominated the opening half, and held an 11-point interval lead; 0-18 to 0-7. David Reidy, Ethan Hurley and Shane O’Brien were among the Treaty scorers while for Kilkenny, TJ Reid, Fionán Mackessy and Martin Keoghan led the charge.

Shane Dowling denied Billy Ryan and Reid with two stunning saves in the opening six minutes.

Despite a much imporved second half, Limerick could never draw closer than four points. Aidan O’Connor, clubmate Ballybrown and College teammate Paddy O’Donovan were all on target as Cian Lynch, William O’Donoghue and Adam English came thundering into the game.


However, a failure to score after the 61st minute meant that late scores from Reid, the impressive Keoghan and John Donnelly sealed the points for Kilkenny, who jump above Limerick, for a week at least.

Limerick lost Cathal O’Neill to injury during the first half, to add to the injury list which it is believed also has Kyle Hayes, Dan Morrissey and Nickie Quaid.

The final round of Division 1A games takes place next weekend, with Limerick hosting Wexford at 7.30pm on Saturday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-10 (0-8 frees); Martin Keoghan 0-7; Fionán Mackessy 0-3 (0-1 free); Billy Ryan, John Donnelly, Cian Kenny 0-2 each; Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy, Tommy Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: David Reidy 0-8 (0-7 frees); Tom Morrissey, Colin Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor 0-2 each; Patrick O’Donovan, Adam English, Ethan Hurley, Shane O’Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Barry Nash each.


Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; Shane Murphy, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; John Donnelly (C), Billy Ryan, Fionan Mackessy; Luke Hogan, TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan.

Subs: Killian Doyle for Molloy (blood – 47 – 49); Killian Doyle for Kenny (inj – 57); Harry Shine for Hogan (59); Eoghan Lyng for Mackessy (67); Peter McDonald for Molloy, Gearóid Dunne for Reid (both 73).

Limerick: Shane Dowling; Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Colin Coughlan, William O’Donoghue, Ethan Hurley; Adam English, Cian Lynch (C); Tom Morrissey, David Reidy, Cathal O’Neill; Shane O’Brien, Seamus Flanagan, Aidan O’Connor.

Subs: Patrick O’Donovan for O’Neill (inj – 33); Donnacha Ó Dálaigh for Flanagan (53); Michael Houlihan for English, Eddie Stokes for Morrissey, Oisin O’Farrell for O’Brien (70).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).