Kilkenny 2-14 Limerick 0-15NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE/Semi Final: Kilkenny arrived on the Shannon and delivered a quietly unforgiving experience on the fancied team for this year's Allianz Hurling League. Even without the famous stylists that have helped write the modern game, the Leinster side were persuasively physical and delightful as the occasion demanded.
Reduced to 13 men for the final 10 minutes when a frustrated Philly Larkin followed Eddie Brennan to the dug-out, the visitors were stone faced and serene in the face of an expected Limerick charge that never really materialised.
Remorseless and all business at the back, with Noel Hickey wrapping around himself Brian Begley's languid frame and Peter Barry hurling in untouchable splendour, Kilkenny profited from an attacking game that revolved around Henry Shefflin.
The Ballyhale phenomenon brings so much more to Kilkenny now than frees and the occasional touch of the divine. On this performance, he is a potential team leader for the summer ahead, a constant and reliable target man, drawing the core of Limerick's central defence and flicking superbly-floated passes.
Such was Shefflin's contribution that Martin Comerford's fine afternoon with 1-4 from play went almost unnoticed, although the full-forward's final score, when he was back-pedalling close to the sideline, was a joy to behold.
The ease of the Kilkenny goals, both in the first half, should worry Limerick. Shefflin rifled a 21st minute penalty after Joe Quaid fouled Stephen Grehan as he was about to capitalise on a low shot that Quaid had deflected into the goal area.
Two minutes later, Limerick were beaten again. That strike materialised from a seemingly harmless build-up. Peter Barry played a low, clever ball for Shefflin, and from the flick on, Comerford found himself in behind the Limerick defence. He finished with a stroke of flamboyance that has become the trademark of Kilkenny goals.
The home team lived with both scores, however, trailing 2-6 to 0-10 at half-time. Mark Keane demonstrated a lovely scoring touch over the initial period, landing five dead balls and a gorgeous score from the left wing. However his eye betrayed him after the restart as Limerick simply died and their chief free taker will need to develop more consistent form ahead of the championship.
But it was an off-day for Eamonn Cregan's young side in general. Ciarán Carey and Stephen Lucey were nullified at midfield and Brian Geary endured a miserable 25 minutes with Shefflin before leaving with what seemed to be an injury. Donie Ryan's positive response to a late call-up was undermined by his 66th minute dismissal. Ollie Moran's bright start and intelligent use of the ball later paled, leaving the half-forward line all too quiet.
Stephen McDonagh's renaissance continues, though. Peter Lawlor and the unstoppable Mark Foley were stars in Limerick's failed revival. Joe Quaid had two good stops but his parry on Shefflin's original shot fell badly and ended with the Kilkenny penalty.
There was nothing flash about the visitors' second-half dominance as they eased into a 2-11 to 0-12 lead after 56 minutes. Martin Comerford's 45th minute point was a perfect example of the speed at which they transfer the ball, with Barry and Eddie Brennan improvising with wonderful hand-flicks to keep the ball in play near the stand sideline before the ball was drilled forward.
The return from the wing forwards was minimal in comparison to Shefflin's input, with Andy Comerford still in the early stages of his recuperation.
Neither team fully struck form but Limerick will be particularly disappointed with their response to the last 10 minutes when Kilkenny lost their second man. Brennan was given a second yellow after 60 minutes following a tussle with TJ Ryan while Larkin walked two minutes later when Owen O'Neill was grounded. Neither offence was clear-cut but when Mark Keane dispatched a 20-metre free, Limerick were still alive, down 2-11 to 0-14.
Instead, Kilkenny looked the more liberated, and controlled the rest of the game, with Martin Comerford adding the grace notes with a pair of attractive looking scores.
Kilkenny, then, amble on to the final in that unhurried, country fashion of theirs while Limerick knuckle down to ready themselves for the big dance, a little wiser and older after this encounter with a county that has mastered the art of winning simply.
LIMERICK: J Quaid; D Reale, TJ Ryan, S McDonagh; P Lawlor, B Geary, M Foley (0-2); C Carey, S Lucey; O Moran (0-1), S O'Connor, B Foley; D Ryan (0-2), B Begley (0-2, one free), M Keane (0-6, four frees, one 65). Subs: M O'Brien (0-1) for B Geary (25 mins); C Smith for D Reale (half-time); O O'Neill (0-1) for B Foley (53).
KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney (0-1), D Lyng (0-1, 65), P Tennyson; J Hoyne, H Shefflin (1-7, pen, five frees), A Comerford; E Brennan, M Comerford (1-4), S Grehan (0-1).
Referee: P Horan (Offaly).
RESULTS ROUND-UP
NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE
Division One semi-finals: Cork 0-21 Tipperary 1-10; Kilkenny 2-14 Limerick 0-15
Division Two semi-finals: Antrim 4-14 Kerry 3-8; Laois 2-12 Down 2-9.
Division Three semi-final: Longford 3-13 Donegal 2-5
Division One relegation play-off: Derry 2-16 Meath 2-12 aet
Leinster Under-21 Football Championship final: Dublin 1-17 Wicklow 2-4.
All-Ireland Colleges Senior A Football Championship semi-final replay: St Jarlath's, Tuam 2-13 Coláiste na Sceilge 2-12, aet.
All-Ireland Vocational Schools Hurling Championships semi-final: Tipperary 3-12 Cork 3-6.
