Kilkenny controlled the majority of the match – ending their league on a high note
Kilkenny 0-29
Limerick 0-20
The Limerick hurlers have suffered a 0-29 to 0-20 loss to Kilkenny in round four of the Allianz Hurling League at UPMC Nowlan Park today.
TJ Reid and Martin Keoghan combined for 17 points, with the latter scoring seven from play and proving to be a thorn in Limerick’s side all game.
The result rules Limerick out of reaching the league final, meaning next Saturday night’s clash with Wexford at the TUS Gaelic Grounds will effectively be a dead rubber.
It was a frantic start at UMPC Nowlan Park. Shane Dowling was busiest in the Limerick net – first having to tap a Billy Ryan effort at goal over the bar after some good reflexes before also denying TJ Reid shortly after.
TJ Reid opened the scoring early on with a long-range free, and it was his four frees that had Kilkenny 0-08 to 0-04 ahead after twenty minutes. For Limerick, an Ethan Hurley score after coming up from corner back was one of the few bright sparks in the early stages.
In the second quarter, Kilkenny’s dominance continued, with Cian Kenny, Martin Keoghan, and Fionan Mackessy all contributing scores to put Kilkenny nine points up at the break.
TJ Reid continued his perfect form on the frees to open the Cats account in the second half before Colin Coughlan pointed from range. In a worrying trend for Limerick, Fionan Mackessy and John Donnelly continued their fine form after finding themselves in plenty of space near the Limerick goal.
Limerick kept themselves alive though, first through substitute Patrick O’Donovan and then Coughlan, who popped up for his second score of the half. A David Reidy free then cut the gap to ten and Limerick were alive.
On the comeback trail, Limerick reduced the gap to 0-24 to 0-20 through multiple scores from Aidan O’Connor and David Reidy.
Unfortunately, the Treaty left themselves with too much to do, and Kilkenny kicked on with late scores from TJ Reid and substitute Harry Shine, putting the game out of reach
In the last action of the game, Kilkenny’s Paddy Deegan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a high tackle.
TG4 Man of the Match: Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny).
Scorers
Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-10 (0-8 f), Martin Keoghan 0-6, Fionan Mackessy 0-3 (0-1 f), John Donnelly 0-3, Cian Kenny, Billy Ryan (both 0-2), Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy, Tommy Walsh (all 0-1).
Limerick: David Reidy 0-8 (0-7 f), Tom Morrissey, Colin Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor (all 0-2), Shane O’Brien, Ethan Hurley, Patrick O’Donovan, Adam English, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Barry Nash (all 0-1)
Teams
Kilkenny:
1. Eoin Murphy, 2. Mikey Butler, 3. Huw Lawlor, 4. Shane Murphy, 5. Fionan Mackessy, 6. Richie Reid, 7. Paddy Deegan, 8. Jordan Molloy, 19. Tommy Walsh, 10. John Donnelly, 11. Cian Kenny, 12. Billy Ryan, 24. Luke Hogan, 14. TJ Reid, 15. Martin Keoghan.
Limerick:
1. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), 2. Sean Finn (Bruff), 3. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 19. Ethan Hurley (Newcastlewest), 5. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), 6. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), 7. Barry Nash (South Liberties), 8. Adam English (Doon), 9. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) Captain, 20. Tom Morrissey (Ahane), 11. David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca), 12. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister), 13. Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), 14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), 15. Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown).
Subs: 23. Patrick O’Donovan (Effin) for O’Neill (inj, 33 mins), 22. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh for Flanagan (52 mins), 26. Eddie Stokes, and 18. Micheal Houlihan for English and Morrissey (70 mins), 24. Oisin O’Farrell for O’Brien (71 mins).