IT WAS THE first of this year’s All-Ireland hurling semi-finals today as Kilkenny and Limerick squared off. We were live from Croke Park and we’re going to follow the action all the way.
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Result: Kilkenny 2-13 Limerick 0-17
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Welcome along to our coverage of today’s senior showdown and the big early news is that throw-in will be delayed until 3.45pm as the minor match has gone to extra-time.
We’re gearing up for throw-in here, both teams out on the pitch warming up.
Here’s how Limerick boss TJ Ryan has his side lining up.
LIMERICK
1. Nicky Quaid (Effin)
2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher)
5. Paudie O Brien (Vice Captain) (Kilmallock)
6. Wayne McNamara (Adare)
7. Gavin O Mahony (Kilmallock)
8. James Ryan (Garryspillane)
9. Paul Browne (Bruff)
10. Declan Hannon (Adare)
11. Donal O’Grady (Captain)(Granagh/Ballyingarry)
12. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
14. Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh)
15. David Breen (Na Piarsaigh)
And here’s the Kilkenny team.
KILKENNY
1. David Herity (Dunnamaggin)
2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. JJ Delaney (Fenians)
4. Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens)
5. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
6. Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
7. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
8. Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
9. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own)
10. Padraigh Walsh (Tullaroan)
11. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
14. Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels)
15. Eoin Larkin (James Stephens)
Substitutes are as follows:
Kilkenny: 16. Eoin Murphy, 17. Brian Kennedy, 18. Kieran Joyce, 19. Lester Ryan, 20. Tommy Walsh, 21. Henry Shefflin, 22. Aidan Fogarty, 23. Richie Power, 24. Walter Walsh, 25. John Power, 26. Jonjo Farrell.
Limerick 16. Aaron Murphy, 17. Stephen Walsh, 18. Cathal King, 19. Sean Tobin, 20. Dan Morrissey, 21. Conor Allis, 22. Thomas Ryan, 23. Niall Moran, 24. Thomas O’Brien, 25. Micheal Ryan, 26. John Fitzgibbon.
Here’s one man shouting Limerick on today:
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And we’re set for throw-in here.
Limerick 0-1 Kilkenny 0-0
2 mins – Couple of early wides from Kilkenny but Limerick make no mistake with their first chance as Declan Hannon points.
Limerick 0-2 Kilkenny 0-0
4 mins – Big scrap for possession in the Limerick attack but Donal O’Grady breaks it free for himself, picks it up and clips over a point.
Limerick 0-2 Kilkenny 0-1
5 mins – Kilkenny get off the mark as Colin Fennelly cuts through to point.
Limerick 0-2 Kilkenny 0-2
6 mins – TJ Reid slots the first free of the day to bring us level.
Four wides for Kilkenny is evidence of their faulty shooting early on.
Limerick 0-3 Kilkenny 0-2
8 mins – Brilliantly stylish point by David Breen from the right wing for Limerick.
Limerick 0-4 Kilkenny 0-2
11 mins – Limerick are flying. Graeme Mulcahy extends their lead.
Limerick 0-4 Kilkenny 0-3
12 mins – Colin Fennelly bangs over a point to cut the gap that Kilkenny face.
Limerick 0-4 Kilkenny 0-4
13 mins – And now it’s level as Padraig Walsh notches a Kilkenny point.
Limerick 0-5 Kilkenny 0-4
14 mins – Gavin O’Mahony flights in a delivery for Limerick that is superbly fetched by Shane Dowling and he caps it off with a point. Five Limerick forwards on the scoresheet now.
Limerick 0-6 Kilkenny 0-4
15 mins – Declan Hannon bursts on to a popped pass from Mulcahy and then he fires over a point for Limerick.
The floodlights are on early in Croke Park on a grey afternoon.
Limerick 0-7 Kilkenny 0-4
19 mins – Limerick must be really happy so far with the start to this game as Shane Dowling points a free to send them three ahead.
Limerick 0-7 Kilkenny 0-5
21 mins – Kilkenny’s best forward so far has been Colin Fennelly and he’s just tapped over his third point after a great cross field pass from Richie Hogan to pick him out.
Eight wides now by Kilkenny as TJ Reid misses from a free. They trail by two.
Limerick 0-8 Kilkenny 0-5
23 mins – Graeme Mulcahy has been really impressive so far and he’s just shot over his second point of the day.
Limerick 0-8 Kilkenny 0-6
24 mins – Michael Fennelly works hard to shrug off the challenges before smashing over a fine point for Kilkenny.
Nearly a Limerick goal as O’Grady lofts in a ball that Dowling bats in the air but Herity gets down well to save.
Limerick 0-9 Kilkenny 0-6
28 mins – Dowling is fouled by JJ Delaney and he dusts himself down before firing over the free. Limerick may look to exploit that one-on-one.
Limerick 0-10 Kilkenny 0-7
29 mins – TJ Reid knocks over a Kilkenny free after a foul by Tom Condon on Richie Hogan. But Limerick respond with Kevin Downes feeding Dowling and he’s under severe pressure but manages to one-handed strike the ball over the bar.
Limerick 0-10 Kilkenny 0-8
32 mins – Good alterness by Michael Fennelly to intercept a Limerick clearance and he despatches a point.
Limerick 0-10 Kilkenny 0-9
33 mins – Richie Hogan finds Padraig Walsh in space and he darts along the left wing before picking off a point.
Goal for Kilkenny from Richie Hogan!
Half-Time: Kilkenny 1-9 Limerick 0-10
Richie Hogan bursts through and smashes home a terrific goal for Kilkenny but then just before the break, Limerick think they have nearly found the net when David Breen challenges David Herity. The ball didn’t cross the line though and the game plays on.
Here’s the first-half scorers:
Kilkenny: Richie Hogan 1-0, Colin Fennelly 0-3, Michael Fennelly, TJ Reid (0-2f), Padraig Walsh 0-2 each.
Limerick: Shane Dowling 0-4 (0-2f), Graeme Mulcahy, Declan Hannon 0-2 each, David Breen, Donal O’Grady 0-1 each.
45,478 is the attendance here today.
Teams are back out for the second-half.
Kilkenny 1-10 Limerick 0-11
36 mins – First blood early in second-half to Colin Fennelly as he points for Kilkenny. Then Paul Browne races through before unleashing a shot that is tipped away for a ’65 that Dowling duly converts.
Kilkenny 1-11 Limerick 0-11
40 mins – TJ Reid bangs over a free for Kilkenny.
Sub: Seanie Tobin comes on for Limerick for Kevin Downes.
David Breen breaks down the right wing for Limerick and goes past Brian Hogan before unleashing a goal bound drive that is blocked by Herity.
Kilkenny 1-11 Limerick 0-12
44 mins – TJ Reid misses a free at one end for Kilkenny as it drops short with Limerick clearing through Wayne McNamara to launch an attack that ends with club mate Declan Hannon pointing.
Kilkenny 1-11 Limerick 0-13
47 mins – Mulcahy does superbly to engineer a free for Limerick which Dowling converts.
Paul Murphy now marking Graeme Mulcahy in the Kilkenny defence.
Kilkenny 1-11 Limerick 0-14
50 mins – Dowling slots a free to Hannon who points and the teams are level after Donal O’Grady was fouled. Sheets of torrential rain in Croke Park now.
Limerick 0-15 Kilkenny 1-11
51 mins – Seanie Tobin puts Limerick ahead.
Sub: Henry Shefflin is now on for Kilkenny for Mark Kelly.
Limerick 0-16 Kilkenny 1-11
54 mins – And Dowling nails a tricky free from the wing as Limerick go two ahead.
That’s five points without reply now for Limerick.
Goal for Kilkenny!
Kilkenny 2-11 Limerick 0-16
56 mins – Looks like Richie Power got the last touch there from a long-range free by Richie Hogan and now Kilkenny are back in front.
Neglected to tell you that it was Padraig Walsh who made way for Richie Power in the Kilkenny forward line.
Kilkenny 2-12 Limerick 0-16
60 mins – Power is fouled and TJ Reid smacks over the resultant free for Kilkenny.
Kilkenny 2-12 Limerick 0-17
61 mins – Fantastic point by Hannon for Limerick, his fifth of the day.
Sub: Thomas Ryan in for Limerick for David Breen.
Free in for Kilkenny after what can only be termed a professional foul by Donal O’Grady on Richie Power.
Kilkenny 2-13 Limerick 0-17
67 mins – TJ Reid points the free.
Sub: Niall Moran on for Limerick for O’Grady.
Two minutes left, Kilkenny up by two.
One minute left.
Shane Dowling’s effort from a long-range free tails wide for Limerick.
Two minutes of injury time.
Full-Time: Kilkenny 2-13 Limerick 0-17
All over, what a pulsating contest. Kilkenny survive with goals by Richie Hogan and Richie Power critical to their victory. Heroic effort by Limerick but they fall just short. That’s all from us, thanks for joining in.
