Cody's Cats retain All-Ireland title

KILKENNY 2-19 LIMERICK 1-15

There was All-Ireland heartbreak again for Limerick, eleven years after their last final appearance, as Brian Cody's super-charged Kilkenny side collected their fifth Liam McCarthy Cup since 2000.

The Cats equalled Cork's record mark of 30 All-Ireland SHC titles in a Croke Park final that disappointingly failed to fire.

In front of an 82,127-strong crowd, two telling goals in the first ten minutes from Kilkenny talismen Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin left Limerick chasing the game.

Helped by a four-point blast from Eoin Larkin, the Cats stretched out to a 2-10 to 0-8 half-time lead.

Ollie Moran crashed home a 47th-minute goal for the Shannonsiders but Kilkenny never looked like losing despite first half injuries for team captain Shefflin (knee) and full-back Noel Hickey (hamstring).

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody said afterwards: "It was one of our greatest ever wins. Those injuries would have floored any team but we bounced back from them and it shows the strength of the panel.

"We had so many reasons to win this game. This win is dedicated to James, Vanessa and Daragh McGarry. James was an inspiration to us in his hurling career, particularly this year.

"We got the early scores, Limerick were playing catch-up. It was backs to the wall in the second half. You know…hurling is all about guts, determination and character and we have it in abundance."

Meeting the Cats in the final for the first time since 1974, Limerick needed to make the better start but their world cruelly collapsed around them when Kilkenny scored two goals in the space of a minute.

Brennan broke clear off a 'Cha' Fitzpatrick sideline ball to fire an unstoppable shot to the far left corner of Brian Murray's net for goal number one. Fitzpatrick was provider for his side's second green flag as he floated a long ball for Shefflin to collect and the captain brilliantly batted home as he got the better of both Stephen Lucey and Murray.

With two Larkin points and a Shefflin free also on the scoreboard, the reigning champions roared into a 2-3 to 0-0 lead.

Limerick looked deflated but they gradually played themselves into the game with scores from Andrew O'Shaughnessy (free), Donal O'Grady and Sean O'Connor.

Brennan and Ollie Moran then traded scores before the latter's second point was replied to by the on-form Larkin, who was scoring at will and had three points to his name after 20 minutes' play.

Kilkenny suffered their first injury blow two minutes later when full-back Hickey pulled up with a hamstring injury as he chased the ball, meaning John Tennyson had to be thrown into the fray.

Tennyson, who started last year's final at centre-back, slotted in well as he plucked a high ball out of the sky and cracked away a relieving clearance for his first involvement.

Limerick required a brave block from Seamus Hickey to prevent the elusive Brennan from finding the net again, but the shot looped over for a point and Shefflin soon added another to strengthen Kilkenny's lead.

While their half-forward line were getting in amongst the scores, Limerick's full-forward were getting little or no change from their markers and their championship top scorer O'Shaughnessy was being kept out of the game, save for placed balls.

The hard work Richie Bennis' men required to create a score was showing, although Donie Ryan did well to find Mike Fitzgerald for an inspirational point.

Yet straight from the puck-out, PJ Ryan found Larkin and the James Stephens star swung over another stunning score to keep the Cats ticking.

O'Shaughnessy and Moran were beginning to make the most of the opportunities that came their way, however Brennan and the classy Tommy Walsh claimed overs in the final minutes of the half to send Kilkenny in at the break with a double scores lead.

There were worrying signs for Kilkenny supporters when skipper Shefflin failed to appear for the second half. The 2006 Hurler of the Year had to watch the remaining 35 minutes from the Hogan Stand after sustaining a suspected cruciate ligament injury.

Shefflin's loss would be monumental for most teams and with O'Shaughnessy and Niall Moran firing over the half's opening two points, Kilkenny's lead was suddenly down to six points.

Yet the strength in depth in Kilkenny hurling shone through as without two of their best players, Cody's men drove on for victory to maintain their current unbeaten run in the championship which stretches back to the 2005 semi-final.

Substitutes Richie Power and Tennyson increasing their influence, the former with a hat-trick of frees, while Brennan was proving to be a menace between the forty and the Limerick square.

Kilkenny looked to be losing their composure slightly when a long ball was not dealt with by their rearguard and certain All-Star Moran was on hand to sweep the ball home.

While Walsh, Fitzpatrick and Aidan Fogarty launched over points in reply, Limerick had the lead whittled down to five points - 2-16 to 1-14 - by the hour mark thanks to further overs from O'Shaughnessy (0-3) and O'Grady.

O'Shaughnessy could really have had two goals in that spell as his 55th-minute free from 20 metres out was saved on the Kilkenny line by JJ Delaney, and right on the hour, the Limerick number 13 had a kicked effort cleared by Jackie Tyrrell.

As the rain began to tumble down out of the Dublin sky, many supporters began to run for cover or make their way to the exits as with time ticking on, it became clear that it was going to be Kilkenny's day.

Especially when Derek Lyng teed up Power for his first point from play and Brennan flung over his fourth point of the afternoon to take his tally to 1-4. Brennan, most pundits' man of the match, fittingly landed the game's final point in injury-time, in response to O'Shaughnessy's seventh over which was nothing more than a consolation score for Bennis' valiant side.

Kilkenny were deserving winners though, the class of Cody's 34-man panel shone through and no doubt Shefflin and company already have their minds firmly set on claiming a three-in-a-row this time next year.

Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh (0-2), B Hogan, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, J Fitzpatrick (0-1); E Brennan (1-5), H Shefflin (1-2, 0-1 f), E Larkin (0-4); W O’Dwyer, M Comerford, A Fogarty (0-1).

Subs used: J Tennyson for Hickey (23 mins), R Power (0-4, 0-3f) for O’Dwyer (27), M Fennelly for Sheflin (half-time).

Limerick: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; P Lawlor, B Geary, M Foley; D O'Grady (0-2), M O'Brien; M Fitzgerald (0-1), O Moran (1-3), S O'Connor (0-1); A O'Shaugnessy (0-7, 0-6f, 0-1 ’65'), B Begley, D Ryan.

Subs used: M O’Riordan for S Lucey (5 mins, blood sub), N Moran (0-1) for M O'Brien (half-time), J O'Brien for O’Connor (45), P Tobin for Fitzgerald (49), K Tobin for Ryan (59), P Lawlor for O'Riordan (68).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)