Allianz NHL: Spirited Kilkenny survive Limerick fightback to win in style

Kilkenny recorded their third win of the Allianz Hurling League campaign with a spirited victory over Limerick in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.

A commanding first half and closing ten minutes was key to the home win with a Limerick storm at the start of the second half not blowing Kilkenny off course on their road to victory.

The win all but assures the Cats' Division 1A status in the Allianz Hurling League after a difficult period of two straight defeats against Cork and Tipperary respectively.

There was nothing between pair in the opening ten minutes of the first half with the sides level three times in that period (0-4 each).

However, things changed utterly over the next 25 minutes as Derek Lyng's side went on to dominate the contest, outscoring Limerick 0-14 to 0-3 with notable points from Cian Kenny and Fionan Mackessy raising the decibels amongst the home support.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny legend pledges the county has the 'pedigree' to turn their fortunes around as Limerick come to town 

Limerick went 13 minutes without a score during Kilkenny's purple patch with Tom Morrissey settling the ship for the Treaty County after 21 minutes (0-12 to 0-6).

A David Reidy free soon followed but Lyng's charges finished the half strongly as TJ Reid (0-4, 0-2 f) and Jordan Molloy white flags meant Kilkenny has a cushion at the break (0-18 to 0-7).

TJ Reid continued his accuracy after the break but John Kiely's men were beginning to found their rhythm and Colin Coughlan replied to give Limerick some confidence in the opening exchanges of the half. 

FOR MORE KILKENNY GAA NEWS, CLICK HERE

Mackessy and Keoghan who had now accounted for 0-5 of Kilkenny's points were causing Limerick problems but the Shannosniders 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 0-8 between them. But, the victors went on to score the last five points of the second half as TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan and John Donnelly added the insurance scores as Kilkenny hung on for a nine point victory.

See People Sport on Wednesday for Full Match Report

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 Used - Killian Doyle for Molloy (47-48 minutes), Killian Doyle for Kenny (56 minutes), Harry Shine for Hogan (59 minutes), Eoghan Lyng for Mackessy, Peter McDonald for Molloy (72 minutes), Gearoid Dunne for TJ Reid (72 minutes).

Limerick - Shane Dowling; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Colin Coughlan, William O’Donoghue, Ethan Hurley; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Tom Morrissey , David Reidy, Cathal O’Neill; Shane O’Brien, Seamus Flanagan, Aidan O’Connor.

Subs Used - Patrick O’Donovan for O'Neill (33 minutes), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh for Flanagan (52 minutes), Eddie Stokes for Morrissey and Micheal Houilihan for English (Both 70 minutes), Oisin O'Farrell for O'Brien (71 minutes). 

Post-Match Reaction to Follow...