Kilkenny stir into life to defeat disjointed Limerick and settle relegation picture

Martin Keoghan of Kilkenny scores a point as Mike Casey of Limerick breaks his hurley trying to stop the shot during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Kilkenny and Limerick at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Allianz HL Division 1A: Kilkenny 0-29 Limerick 0-20 

This was all about redemption for Kilkenny but this result reverberated through Division 1A.

Clare and Wexford have been relegated as a result of Kilkenny moving away from the relegation zone, while Tipperary have also qualified for the final courtesy of the Cats’ first home win of the league.

Watched by 6,514, Martin Keoghan scored seven points in a most pleasing performance for Derek Lyng’s side who were down suspended David Blanchfield and Mikey Carey not to mention Ballyhale Shamrocks’ men Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen.

Limerick were without key men themselves for this rescheduled game in UPMC Nowlan Park but they were a distant second to Kilkenny in a first half they lost 0-7 to 0-18. Seamus Flanagan’s poor form will become a stronger talking point as will the subdued displays of some up-and-comers.

Limerick had cut into the 11-point half-time deficit by the end of the third quarter but only by three although they had been 13 points in arrears in the 39th minute. Symptomatic of Limerick’s disjointedness was a Keoghan point in the 53rd minute. Barry Nash handpassed the ball to Mike Casey who had his back to the ball and the Kilkenny forward pounced for his fifth point.

Limerick’s response to that error was impressive, though. They struck the next five scores to make it a four-point game. Aidan O’Connor provided a couple of them but the initiative was being provided by William O’Donoghue and Cian Lynch in the middle third.

However, their last score came in the 61st minute as the finish belonged to Kilkenny and Keoghan in particular. The Tullaroan man hit two of Kilkenny’s five points as they closed out a resounding win five weeks out from their Leinster SHC opener against Galway at this venue.

Lyng had demanded a reaction after the disappointing display against Tipperary and he sure received it in the first half. Kilkenny were far sharper than Limerick and were excellent in cutting down their opponents’ web of short passes.

Kilkenny's Martin Keoghan and Limerick's Sean Finn. Pic: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Shane Dowling was called on twice in the first six minutes to make saves. The first from Billy Ryan in the fourth minute was deflected over the bar and a couple of minutes later Dowling parried a TJ Reid strike.

Despite those let-offs for Limerick, they led on three occasions in the opening nine minutes. However, Kilkenny grabbed hold of the game with six unanswered points midway through the period.

Three of those scores were Reid frees and the last of them came from a Fionan Mackessy placed ball from long range to send Kilkenny five points clear. The difference grew to seven in the 25th minute with three points on the trot.

Second after a fifth converted free, Reid sent over his first from play and the margin hit double digits in the penultimate minute of the half before Tommy Walsh added another.

Scorers for Kilkenny: T.J. Reid (0-10, 8 frees); M. Keoghan (0-7); F. Mackessy (0-3, 1 free); C. Kenny, B. Ryan, J. Donnelly (0-2 each); P. Deegan, J. Molloy, T. Walsh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: D. Reidy (0-8, 7 frees); T. Morrissey, C. Coughlan, A. O’Connor (0-2 each); S. O’Brien, E. Hurley, P. O’Donovan, A. English, A. O’Connor, D. Ó Dalaigh (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; M. Butler, H. Lawlor, T. Walsh; S. Murphy, R. Reid, P. Deegan; J. Molloy, C. Kenny; F. Mackessy, B. Ryan, J. Donnelly (c); L. Hogan, T.J. Reid, M. Keoghan.

Subs for Kilkenny: K. Doyle for J. Molloy (temp 48-49); K. Doyle for C Kenny (inj 57); H. Shine for L. Hogan (59); E. Lyng for F. Mackessy (66); P. McDonald for J. Molloy, G. Dunne for T.J. Reid (both 70+3).

Sent off P. Deegan (second yellow, 70+4).

LIMERICK: S. Dowling; M. Casey, S. Finn, B. Nash; C. Coughlan, W. O’Donoghue, E. Hurley; A. English, C. Lynch (c); T. Morrissey, D. Reidy, C. O’Neill; S. Flanagan, S. O’Brien, A. O’Connor.

Subs for Limerick: P. O’Donovan for C. O’Neill (34); D. Ó Dalaigh for S. Flanagan (53); E. Stokes for T. Morrissey, M. Houlihan for A. English (both 70+1); O. O’Farrell for S. O’Brien (70+2).

Referee: C. Lyons (Cork).