LIMERICK suffered their second defeat of the Allianz Hurling League as they were lost out 0-29 to 0-20 to Kilkenny on Saturday afternoon in UPMC Nowlan Park.
Limerick to their credit battled back in the second half but ultimately left themselves with too much to do as Kilkenny went on to defeat them by nine points. Saturday's defeat now means Limerick cannot reach this year's Allianz Hurling league final.
Tipperary will play the winners of Cork and Galway in this year's Division 1A decider.
John Kiely made three changes from the Limerick team which defeated Galway at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on last Saturday. Ethan Hurley, David Reidy and Seamus Flanagan all came into the starting XV.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny were without David Blanchfield and Mikey Carey who were suspended in last week's defeat to Tipperary.
There was nothing between Limerick and Kilkenny in the opening stages of the first half as the sides were level 0-4 apiece on ten minutes. In the next 25 minutes Kilkenny went on to dominate the contest outscoring Limerick 0-14 to 0-3.
The sides were level three times within the opening ten minutes. It was TJ Reid who nailed a placed ball straight away to put home side into an early lead. Limerick wing back Ethan Hurley then raced up the wing to level matters on two minutes.
Aidan O'Connor then offloaded the sliotar to Shane O'Brien who tapped over a neat point as Limerick led 0-2 to 0-1. Limerick goalkeeper Shane Dowling pulled off two fantastic saves. The Na Piarsaigh goalkeeper saved efforts from Billy Ryan and TJ Reid.
David Reidy took over the free taking duties in the absence of Aaron Gillane. Reidy added his first free of the afternoon and that was quickly cancelled out by a point courtesy of Kilkenny wing forward John Donnelly.
The hosts began to take control of the contest outscoring Limerick 0-5 to 0-1 in the next ten minutes. TJ Reid's accuracy from the placed ball was proving crucial as he landed his fourth free of the afternoon. Cian Kenny and Martin Keoghan added their first scores of the afternoon as Kilkenny led 0-8 to 0-4.
Kerry native Fionan Mackessy who has made the transfer to Kilkenny this year landed a free inside his own half as the Cats extended their lead.
Tom Morrissey's ended Limerick's scoring drought on 22 minutes to make it 0-9 to 0-5. Kenny, Fionan Mackessy and Martin Keoghan continued Kilkenny's impressive start to the first half. Morrissey brought Limerick back within touching distance as they trailed 0-12 to 0-6 on 25 minutes.
Derek Lyng's side hit six of the last seven points in the first half through Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy, TJ Reid and Tommy Walsh as Kilkenny led 0-18 to 0-7 at the break.
TJ Reid got continued his accuracy after the break. Colin Coughlan replied to give Limerick some confidence in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Mackessy and Keoghan had now accounted for five of Kilkenny's points and both players were causing Limerick problems. The Shannonsiders began to enjoy their most dominant spell of this encounter in a 20 minute spell outscoring their opponents 0-12 to 0-3.
Aidan O'Connor and David Reidy were central in this period scoring 0-7 between them, while Patrick O'Donovan, Adam English, Barry Nash, Colin Coughlan and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh chipped in with key scores as Limerick were now just 0-4 behind as Limerick trailed 0-24 to 0-20.
The victors went on to score the last five points of the second half with TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan and John Donnelly adding the insurance scores as Kilkenny hung on for a nine point victory.
Limerick will now switch to their focus to their final Allianz Hurling League game against Wexford next Saturday on March 22 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
SCORERS
David Reidy (0-8, 7 frees); Tom Morrissey, Colin Coughlan, Aidan O’Connor (0-2 each), Shane O’Brien, Ethan Hurley, Patrick O’Donovan, Adam English, Aidan O’Connor, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh (0-1 each).
T.J Reid (0-10, 8 frees); Martin Keoghan (0-7), Fionan Mackessy (0-3, 1 free), Cian Kenny, Billy Ryan, John Donnelly (0-2 each), Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy and Tommy Walsh (0-1 each)
LIMERICK: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh); Sean Finn (Bruff), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West); Adam English (Doon), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell); Tom Morrissey (Ahane), David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister); Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown).
Substitutes: Patrick O’Donovan (Effin) for O'Neill (33 minutes), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen) for Flanagan (52 minutes), Eddie Stokes (Doon) for Morrissey and Micheal Houilihan for English (both, 70 minutes), Oisin O'Farrell for O'Brien (71 minutes).
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; Shane Murphy; Richie Richie, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; John Donnelly, Billy Ryan, Fionan Mackessey; Luke Hogan, TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan.
SUBS: Killian Doyle for Molloy (47-48 minutes), Killian Doyle for Kenny (56 minutes), Harry Shine for Hogan (59 minutes), Eoghan Lyng for Mackessy (66 minutes), Peter McDonald for Molloy (72 minutes), Gearoid Dunne for TJ Reid (72 minutes).
REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork)
