Limerick keep winning run going

Limerick 1-24 Kerry 1-09

What a difference a year makes.

Twelve months ago Limerick failed to win a single game in the Allianz Hurling League but this afternoon at Kilmallock they clinched a place in this year's Division 2 final, ahead of their final round clash with Antrim.

Limerick manager Donal O'Grady will welcome that game because he did not learn a great deal from this one apart from the fact that teenager Kevin Downes is blossoming, with Richie McCarthy and Pat Tobin continuing to shine.

But it was not all sunshine and roses in the first half as Kerry, backed by the strong breeze, jumped into a double scores lead at 1-05 to 0-04.

The visitors' goal was scored in the 20th minute by their man-of-the-match Darragh O'Connell after some hesitancy in the Limerick defence.

But it was that goal that sparked Limerick into life and they hit seven points without reply from Niall Moran, Paul Browne, Moran again, Sean Tobin, Moran once more, Downes and Browne again.

This scoring run altered the complexion of what then became a one-sided contest. By half-time, Limerick led by five points - 0-14 to 1-06 - and they coasted subsequently.

O'Grady's men had three more points on the board and then killed it off when McCarthy raced through, spotted Downes and he hand-passed for the teenager to blast past goalkeeper Bernard Rochford.

Browne returned to midfield and he was one of the most prominent players on show, contributing three points from play.

Kerry flattered to deceive at times and but for the scoring deeds of O'Connell, they would have gone under by a bigger margin.

O'Connell scored 1-06 of the Kingdom's total, including three pointed frees. Shane Nolan was their only scorer from play, with a point in each half.