Limerick prove far too strong for Kerry in comfortable Munster Hurling League victory

Limerick’s next game will be the league opener with Cork under lights in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on February 4.

Limerick picked up their first win of 2023 with a comfortable 16-point win over Kerry in the Munster Hurling League today.

John Kiely’s men were 0-25 to 0-9 winners in Tralee as their preseason comes to a conclusion following last weekend’s draw with Cork.

David Reidy led the scoring charge for the Shannonsiders with 0-9 while Colin Coughlan had 0-4 from play after his introduction at half time.

Limerick led 0-13 to 0-5 at the break following a run of scores in the second quarter after an even opening fifteen minutes.

The sides exchanged the first six scores of the afternoon with the score level at 0-3 apiece after 13 minutes.

Aaron Costello found himself loose for a long-range effort but Eoin Ross was equal to the task with his second.

A David Reidy free and one from Darren O’ Connell had Limerick two clear after 18. Reidy had the next score four minutes later. Micheal Houlihan added to that with his first score for Limerick. Reidy made it five on the trot before Barry Murphy got on the scoresheet. 

Murphy then turned provider as Ronan Connolly made it 0-11 to 0-4 with a half hour on the clock. It was eight in a row when Houlihan fired over his second.

Fionan Mackessey ended a 20 minute wait for a Kerry score with a well-taken effort. Mark Quinlan had the reply, his second long-range effort of the day and the final score of the half.

Reidy kicked off the second where he left off with his sixth score.

But a host of wides followed with Shane Conway’s, free the only other score in the first ten minutes after the restart.

Colin Coughlan broke the duck with his second effort, making amends for an earlier miss.

Mackessy then fired over arguably the score of the day, near the sideline under huge pressure to reduce the margin to single digits.

With twenty to play, Coughlan restored the ten point lead. Reidy and Conor O’Grady added to the lead with quickfire points. Coughlan was then accurate from inside his own half, his third of the half. He added to his tally with ten to play.

On the other wing, Quinlan picked up a third score as time ticked into the red with Limerick leading 0-23 to 0-9. Shane O’Brien made a scoring impact on the bench.

O’Grady rounded off the scoring for Limerick as they end the pre-season with a 16-point win.

Scorers for Limerick: David Reidy (0-9, 7f), Colin Coughlan (0-4), Mark Quinlan (0-3), Micheal Houlihan, Conor O’Grady (both 0-2), Aaron Costello, Darren O’Connell, Barry Murphy, Ronan Connolly, (all 0-1)

LIMERICK: David McCarthy; Fergal O’Connor, Dan Morrissey, Aaron Costello; Mark Quinlan, Ronan Connolly, Ciaran Barry; Darragh O’Donovan, Jimmy Quilty; Micheal Houlihan, Conor O’Grady, David Reidy; Pat Ryan, Barry Murphy, Darren O’Connell.

Subs Used: Colin Coughlan for Barry (HT), Rory Duff for O’Donovan (43), Donnacha O’Dalaigh for Murphy (54) Robbie Hanley for Quilty (57), Aidan O’Connor for Reidy (57), Shane O’Brien for Ryan (57), Jamie Power for McCarthy (58), Murphy for O’Connell (67)