Limerick cruise to victory over Kerry in Munster Hurling League

LIMERICK finished the pre-season Munster Hurling League competition with a comfortable 0-25 to 0-9 victory over Kerry at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.

John Kiely's men caught fire in the second quarter of the opening half with a scoring run of eight points on the trot that set them on their way.

The teams were level four times in the opening quarter before Limerick took firm control. David Reidy top scored for Limerick with 0-12.

It was an even contest before Limerick hit form with the wet weather in Tralee causing issues for both sides in the early stages. 

Three from Reidy, two from Micheál Houlihan, one each from Darrren O'Connell, Barry Murphy and Ronan Connolly saw Limerick 0-12 to 0-4 in the lead up to half time. Mark Quinlan then stretched Limerick's advantage to nine-points at the break.

Limerick dominated even further in the second half with half time Colin Coughlan landing four points from left wing back. Conor O'Grady also hit the target, while Reidy continued to keep things ticking over from placed balls.

Quinlan landed a third late on, O'Grady a second and Shane O'Brien also got on the board after coming off the bench in the second half. 

There were also debuts for Donnacha Ó Dálaign and Jamie Power of the bench in the second half following their All-Ireland heroics with Monaleen. 

It was as comfortable a victory as the scoreline suggests with Limerick now looking ahead to their meeting with Cork in the Allianz Hurling League on February 4.

Scorers Limerick: David Reidy 0-9 (7 frees), Colin Coughlan 0-4, Mark Quinlan 0-3, Micheál Houlihan and Conor O'Grady 0-2 each, Aaron Costello, Darren O'Connell, Barry Murphy, Ronan Connolly and Shane O'Brien 0-1 each.

Scorers: Kerry: Shane Conway 0-5 (5 frees), Eoin Ross and Fionan Mackessy 0-2 each, 

LIMERICK: David McCarthy (Glenroe); Fergal O'Connor (Effin), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock); Mark Quinlan (Garryspillane), Ronan Connolly (Adare), Ciaran Barry (Ahane); Darragh O'Donovan (Doon), Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock); Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock), Conor O'Grady (Hospital-Herbertstown), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca); (Pat Ryan (Doon), Barry Murphy (Doon), Darren O'Connell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry).

Subs: Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) for F O'Connor (h-t), Rory Duff (Mungret St Pauls) for O'Donovan (43 mins), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen) for Murphy (54 mins), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown) for Reidy (57 mins), Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock) for Quilty (57 mins), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock) for Ryan (57 mins), Jamie Power (Monaleen) for McCarthy (59 mins), Barry Murphy for O'Connell (69 mins inj), 

KERRY: Louis Dee; Tadhg Brick, Eric Leen, Keith Carmody; Daniel Collins, Evan Murphy, Michael Leane; Fintan Morrissey, Eoin Ross; Colin Walsh, Dan Goggin, Jordan Conway; Phillip Lucid, Niall Mulcahy, Shane Conway.

Subs: Kyle O'Connor for Leen (h-t), Conor O'Keeffe for Leane (h-t), Declan O'Donoghue for Mulcahy (51 mins), Ronan Walsh for Lucid (51 mins), Morgan Madden for Brick (52 mins), Felim O'Sullivan for Goggin (61 mins), Vincent Doyle for Walsh (63 mins), Cillian Trant for Collins (63 mins), Conor Bohane for Dee (63 mins), Sean Weir for Murphy (67 mins).

REFEREE: Shane Scanlon (Cork)