National Hurling League semi-final concluded with Kilkenny defeating Limerick 3-17 to 1-15. John Kiely, Limerick’s Manager, immediately proceeded from a quarter-hour meeting with his team to the press. According to Kiely, the team took responsibility for the loss. However, an immediate admission of guilt might not pacify the situation, and retributions may be enforced.
When asked if this was the poorest performance during his decade of leadership, Kiely first speculated that it topped any poor performance since his inaugural season in 2017. During that season, the team were defeated in the two meaningful league matches and the only two championship matches they partook in, failing in their progression attempts.
However, back in 2017, they were yet to figure out their identity. The most recent performance contradicts everything that has come to be expected of the Limerick team during their supremacy. Their gameplay lacked flair, their setup was sluggish, their defences and vigour were weak, and their shooting lacked power.
“We failed to excel in all the areas we usually take pride in – from our energy and effort to our ball handling, efficiency, and defence. Kilkenny simply outperformed us,” admitted Kiely. He insisted that their league exit was not intentional. Given the team’s reputation for striving to win each match and enhance their performance weekly, the departure was more a forceful ejection by Kilkenny than a willing surrender. Kiely confessed that their performance was mortifying at times.
Kilkenny experienced a significant turnaround in fortune against the All-Ireland victors. In their previous two encounters from a year ago, Kilkenny faced defeat by a cumulative score difference of 20 points, including a disheartening loss in the league final at this same location 53 weeks prior. Their chances seemed grim as they opted for wind advantage in the first half and found themselves lagging 1-2 to 0-0 within the first four minutes. However, astonishingly, Limerick had already hit their apex by this point.
On their last trip to Cork a couple of weeks back, Limerick allowed three goals for the first time in almost three years, but that didn’t affect the game’s result against Tipperary. On this occasion, however, it dictated the trajectory of the match.
The initial pair of goals from Kilkenny struck in quick succession during the first quarter’s middle phase. The first goal was netted by Eoin Cody following an impressive catch and pass from Jordan Molloy, while Luke Hogan seized the opportunity for the second goal when Cody’s shot was deflected by Nickie Quaid and Hogan was the fastest to respond.
Minutes before half-time, Kilkenny’s third goal rammed home the state of disarray Limerick was in. Cian Lynch was bested in the field’s centre after failing to release the ball on at least two occasions. John Donnelly capitalised on this, spotting TJ Reid unattended near the Limerick net with Aaron Costello. His long pass was spot on, enabling Reid – as he’s done numerous times – to outmuscle Costello. His shot was decisive.
Kilkenny held a lead of 3-6 to 1-6 at half-time, which was reduced to five points when Cody received a second yellow two minutes into the second half. Although this could have been Limerick’s moment to take control, it only seemed to steel Kilkenny’s resolve.
Kilkenny’s lead briefly shrunk to four points, but they stormed back. They had a six-point advantage when Peter Casey was shown a direct red 56 minutes into the game for an off-ball incident. The television replay clearly showed Casey striking Paddy Deegan with his hurley. From this point on, the match steadily progressed to a predictable conclusion.
Derek Lyng opined post the match, that in order to progress and augment as a team, it is crucial to confront the toughest opponents. Surprisingly, Limerick didn’t live up to that expectation this time.
Kilkenny’s playing eleven were as follow: E Murphy, S Murphy, H Lawlor, T Walsh, D Blanchfield, P Deegan, C Buckley who scored 0-1, C Kenny, J Molloy, A Mullen who scored 0-3, J Donnelly, B Ryan who scored 0-1, L Hogan who scored 1-0, TJ Reid who scored 1-8, with 0-7 frees and scored 0-1 65, as well as E Cody who scored 1-0.
Substitutes in the match included R Reid for Buckley at half-time; M Keoghan who scored 0-1 instead of Hogan at 45 mins; O Wall replacing Ryan at 52 minutes; B Drennan who scored 0-3, with 0-1 free and 0-1 65, instead of Reid at 59 minutes; T Clifford in place of Donnelly at 68 minutes; and K Blanchfield replacing Kenny at 70 minutes.
On Limerick’s side, the team comprised of N Quaid, B Nash, S Finn, A Costello, D Byrnes who scored 0-1 from a free kick, D Hannon, C O’Neill who scored 0-2, W O’Donoghue, C Lynch, G Hegarty who scored 0-1, A English, T Morrissey who scored 0-2 from free kicks, P Casey who scored 0-1, A Gillane who scored 1-5, along with 0-3 frees and D Ó Dalaigh who scored 0-1.
Substitutes for Limerick included D Reidy who scored 0-2 from 0-1 free in place of English at half-time; C Boylan in lieu of Lynch at 55 minutes; S Flanagan replaced Gillane at 59 minutes; M Quinlan for Hannon at 61 minutes; and A O’Connor took the place of Hegarty at 68 minutes.
The match was officiated by James Owens from Wexford.