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Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, we relive the last five championship meetings between the pair, dating back to 2014.
It will be a repeat of the 2022 All-Ireland final, as Limerick and Kilkenny are set to lock horns once again with Liam MacCarthy on the line next Sunday.
John Kiely’s Limerick are going for four in a row, while the Cats are looking to take home their first all Ireland since 2015.
It will be the eleventh time the sides have faced off in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling final with Limerick claiming a trio of titles, including the most recent championship on offer.
Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, we relive the last five championship meetings between the pair, dating back to 2014.
Kilkenny 2-13 Limerick 0-17 (All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final)
10 August 2014 in Croke Park
An epic encounter in biblical like conditions but Limerick’s 41-year wait for a win over Kilkenny continued as Cody’s men got the win in GAA HQ.
Declan Hannon, who finished with 0-5 from play and Donal O’Grady got Limerick off the mark as Kilkenny couldn’t cope with their intensity.
That lead was 0-6 to 0-4 after the quarter hour mark with five different men getting their name on the scoresheet.
One of those was Shane Dowling and his audacious one handed strike had Limerick three clear with a half an hour on the clock.
But as the rain bucketed down, Richie Hogan gave Kilkenny the lifeline they needed as his goal was enough for a 1-9 to 0-10 lead at the break.
With the conditions somehow worsening, Limerick roared back into the contest and efforts from Dowling and Seanie Tobin had them two clear with just over a quarter of an hour to play.
But on 56 minutes, Kilkenny again had the perfect tonic, Eoin Larkin getting a sublime flick on a high delivery for their second goal.
Hannon reduced the margin to one but Kilkenny doggedly kept the Shannonsiders at bay as they held out for the two point win before going on to win the All-Ireland.
Kilkenny 0-20 Limerick 0-17 (All Ireland Hurling Qualifiers Round 1)
1 July 2017 in Nowlan Park
Kilkenny ended John Kiely’s maiden season in the Limerick job without a win, getting the job done in Nowlan Park in the first round of the qualifiers.
Kilkenny had the first two scores at home but by the 22nd minute the teams were level at 0-4 apiece with Kyle Hayes, Gearoid Hegarty and Shane Dowling finding the target.
Walter Walsh had a trio of first half scores from play and he proved the difference in the first period as it read 0-10 to 0-8 in Kilkenny’s favour at the interval.
But Limerick started the better after the restart and Hayes had levelled within ten minutes at 0-12 apiece.
However, six of the next seven scores came from the Cats as they made their charge. Scores from substitutes Barry Nash and Pat Ryan did Limerick within two approaching extra-time but Kilkenny finished strong for a three point win to conclude the Shannonsiders campaign.
Limerick 0-27 Kilkenny 1-22 (All Ireland Hurling Quarter Final)
15 July 2018 in Semple Stadium
Limerick finally get the monkey off their back with a first win over Kilkenny in the championship in 45-years.
Kiely’s men needed a late rally after the Cats refused to be put down in a titanic quarter-final battle in Thurles.
Late substitute Richie Hogan got Kilkenny on the scoresheet first and while Seamus Flanagan replied in kind, Kilkenny had the next three scores as Kiely’s side were slow off the mark.
That lead was increased to 0-7 to 0-3 after 17 minutes as Limerick rued a missed goal chance from Aaron Gillane, the first of a string of point blank saves from Eoin Murphy.
But Limerick did slowly come into the game and scores from Gillane, Graeme Mulcahy, Diarmaid Byrnes and Declan Hannon had the teams level at 0-8 apiece.
Limerick continued in this vein as Gearoid Hegarty, Darragh O’Donovan and Tom Morrissey all found the target.
Conor Fogarty reduced arrears with the final score of the half as Limerick led 0-15 to 0-12 at the interval.
TJ Reid and Hegarty exchanged scores to start the second period with Murphy again standing in Limerick’s path of goal.
And Kilkenny made Limerick pay for their inaccuracy in front of goal as scores from Richie Leahy pulled them one clear before Mulcahy levelled.
Peter Casey made his mark from the bench and Donovan had Limerick ahead before Hogan struck for the games only goal with less than ten to play.
Kiely’s youthful side showed tremendous spirit to hit three on the bounce to move ahead again but Leahy was on hand to level heading into injury time.
But when needed most, Tom Morrissey produced the goods, with an excellent solo score before Gillane rounded off the scoring for an epic win.
History tells us that Limerick followed the win up with victories over Cork and Galway for a first All-Ireland title since 1973.
Kilkenny 1-21 Limerick 2-17 (All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final)
27 July 2019 in Croke Park
Limerick’s hopes of retaining the All-Ireland title were dashed as Brian Cody’s men avenged the defeat from the previous season, leading from start to finish.
Paying little heed to Limerick’s 2019 form as they headed into the game with All-Ireland, Munster and League titles in tow, Kilkenny tore into the Shannonsiders.
Kilkenny had the first three scores of the game as Adrian Mullen put them 0-6 to 0-1 clear inside 10 minutes.
Colin Fennelly furthered this lead as he goaled from Eoin Murphy’s puck out to make it 1-7 to 0-2.
But bit by bit, Limerick started to gain a foothold with the full forward line of Aaron Gillane, Graeme Muclahy and Peter Casey all scoring from play.
Gillane in particular was causing problems for the Kilkenny rearguard and he was fouled for a penalty in stoppage time.
The Patrickswell man made no mistake from the spot and suddenly Limerick trailed by just three at the half.
Barry Nash brought Limerick within one on 51 minutes but that was followed by four unanswered from the Cats.
And try as they might, Limerick could not get level, even after Shane Dowling’s wonder strike once more brought them within one.
Darragh O’Donovan had a sideline attempt deflected wide but no 65′ was awarded as Kilkenny held out for the win and a place in the final.
Limerick 1-31 : 2-26 Kilkenny (All-Ireland Final)
17 July 2022 in Croke Park
The sides locked horns for the first time since Kilkenny dumped Limerick out of the championship in 2019, except this time it was in the final, and the Shannonsiders were on the hunt for their third Liam MacCarthy in a row.
A defiant Kilkenny display fell just short of the mark, losing by two points to an incredible Limerick side blessed with skill and style.
The first half made Limerick’s superiority clear, and an early Gearoid Hegarty goal put the Shannonsiders in the ascendency.
But the Cats were playing with desire, and managed to stay within touching distance, trailing by just four points at the break.
The second half proved to be a tighter affair, as Limerick extended their lead to six, only for Kilkenny to fire a goal courtesy of Billy Ryan.
Martin Keoghan would find a second goal for the Cats, leaving Limerick with just a one point lead.
Kiely’s men managed to hit a purple patch late on, with Cathal O’Neill, Conor Boylan, Aaron Gillane and Hegarty all throwing over scores to build a healthy lead.
Kilkenny did put on a late fight back, but it was too late, and ultimately they would fall two points short.
The final whistle sounded and once again Limerick were All-Ireland champions, three in a row!
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