Limerick melt in 12-minute maelstrom

At half-time in yesterday’s All-Ireland hurling quarter-final in showery Semple Stadium, a shock looked like a very real possibility, Limerick belying their massive underdog tag with a first-half display of poise and class, trailing at the break by just a single point (2-7 to 1-9).

They’d played into a stiff breeze to boot.

Even seven minutes into the second half, that shock still looked likely, Limerick easily containing the anticipated Kilkenny backlash after Brian Cody’s half-time tongue-lashing. Points from team captain David Breen and corner-forward Seanie Tobin in reply to a point gifted to Kilkenny captain Eoin Larkin, had the teams level in the 42nd minute, Limerick poised to drive on.