GAA: Kilkenny lucky to get by Limerick 0-20 to 0-17
Sunday 2 July 2017 16:47, UK
Kilkenny secured their ninth ever championship victory over Limerick as Brian Cody's men won 0-20 to 0-17 in an entertaining Round 1 qualifier clash at Nowlan Park.
TJ Reid scored eight points for Kilkenny as they did just enough to overcome a spirited Limerick side and the Cats can now look forward to Round 2 of the qualifiers next weekend.
Limerick did enough to leave themselves in a position to come with a late rally to snatch it but they were unable to find a way through a good Kilkenny defence and their 2017 championship campaign is now over.
The qualifiers may be new to Kilkenny at this time of year but they started well with talisman Reid opening the scoring from a free after two minutes. Just second later, midfielder Paddy Deegan profited from a superb Richie Hogan pass to split the posts and give Kilkenny a 0-2 to 0-0 lead.
Limerick's first score of the match came in the sixth minute as Shane Dowling opened his account from a free.
Reid replied with a free of his own before the impressive Kyle Hayes got one back for the visitors after getting on the end of a knock-down by captain Gearoid Hegarty as Limerick trailed 0-3 to 0-2 in the 10th minute.
Kilkenny could have had a goal a minute later as Chris Bolger burst through the Limerick defence but the wing forward put the ball over the bar to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Limerick drew level as Hegarty and Dowling (free) raised white flags to tie the game at 0-4 apiece in the 22nd minute.
Another goal chance went awry for Kilkenny as Michael Fennelly was denied by Nickie Quaid. The midfielder's one-handed strike was blocked by Quaid but the Effin clubman almost fumbled the ball into the net. Thankfully for John Kiely's men, the goalkeeper recovered to clear the danger.
Walter Walsh grew into the game towards the end of the half contributing three brilliant scores from play and Deegan and Reid both hit great scores to keep Kilkenny in the driving seat.
Limerick wasted a number of opportunities in the first half but they managed to notch further scores through Peter Casey, Hayes, Dowling (free) and Hegarty as the Shannonsiders went in at the break 0-10 to 0-8 behind.
Casey got the first score of the second half to bring Limerick within a point of Kilkenny but Brian Cody's men stretched their lead as Deegan shot his third point before Reid chipped over his fifth of the evening to give Kilkenny a 0-12 to 0-9 lead after 39 minutes.
Limerick responded by shooting the next three scores. The impressive Casey scored his third point before Dowling scored the next two as Limerick looked to keep their summer going.
Another two pointed frees form Reid got Kilkenny back in front and Limerick again had Quaid to thank as the goalkeeper produced a stunning save to deny Bolger a goal in the 56th minute.
Substitutes Kevin Kelly (2) and Lester Ryan both shot points off the bench and Walter Walsh notched his fourth point of the evening to give Kilkenny a five-point lead with seven minutes to go.
Dowling replied for Limerick before substitutes Barry Nash and Pat Ryan closed the gap to two points with a minute remaining.
But late scores from Reid and Lester Ryan either side of Dowling's eighth point proved vital for Cody's men as they held on for victory.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, P Walsh, J Holden; C Fogarty, C Buckley, J Lyng; M Fennelly, P Deegan (0-3); C Bolger (0-1), W Walsh (0-4), TJ Reid (0-8, 0-6f); R Hogan, C Fennelly, G Aylward.
Subs: K Kelly (0-2) for Aylward (44), L Blanchfield for Hogan (52), L Ryan (0-2) for Deegan (55), M Bergin for Bolger (64).
Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, R McCarthy, M Casey; D Morrissey, D Hannon, S Hickey; P Browne, D O'Donovan; D Dempsey, C Lynch, G Hegarty (0-2); P Casey (0-3), S Dowling (0-8, 0-6f), K Hayes (0-2).
Subs: B Nash (0-1) for Hegarty (46), J Ryan for O'Donovan (50), T Morrissey for Dempsey (54), P Ryan (0-1) for Browne (59), G Mulcahy for Lynch (68), G O'Mahony for Hannon (74).
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
