Limerick 4-28
Kerry 0-16
Paul Brennan reports from the Gaelic Grounds
LIMERICK, AS EXPECTED, built on their mid-week win over Clare to make it three Co-Op Superstores Munster SHL wins from four games with a comprehensive 24-point hammering of Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds and leaves John Kiely’s team waiting to see if they will qualify for next weekend’s final.
While the result was never going to be anything other than a Limerick win, three goals in the five minutes before half time ensured the home side were going to run out easy victors. With Peter Casey converting a few early frees Limerick eased into a five-point lead before Danny Collins and Shane Nolan got Kerry on the scoreboard.
Another couple of Nolan scores kept Kerry in touch, 0-10 to 0-5, after 20 minutes, but the Kerry defence was under constant pressure from an in-form Limerick full forward line. That pressure told when Casey seized on a Kerry defensive error hit the net, 1-13 to 0-6, in the 29th minute, and a minute later Barry Nash played in Tom Morrissey for a well taken goal.
Two minutes after that Kyle Hayes’ perfect pass set up Nash in front of goal and Aiden McCabe was picking the ball from the net again as Limerick took a 3-15 to 0-7 lead to the interval.
Nolan got two early scores for Kerry after the restart but Barry Nash scored his second and Limerick’s fourth goal, and thereafter the second half took on an inevitable rhythm with Limerick easing up somewhat and picking off scores at their ease.
Kerry, to their credit, battled gamely, with Collins’ industry propped up by a couple of scores from Mikey Boyle to keep Kerry’s small band of supporters interested.
Ronan Lynch came off the bench and took up free takinig duties, converting five frees and a point from play, and substitute Kevin O’Brien scored two.
Kerry ended with 14 men, James O’Connor picking up a second yellow late in the game, as Limerick tacked on a few late scores to prop up their scoring difference, which might come into play.
Scorers for Limerick: Peter Casey (1-9; 0-6f), Barry Nash (2-3), Tom Morrissey (1-2), Ronan Lynch (0-6; 5f), Cian Lynch (0-3), Kevin O’Brien (0-2), Stephen Cahill (0-1), James Ryan (0-1), Gramem Mulcahy (0-1)/
Scorers for Kerry: Shane Nolan (0-6; 5f), Daniel Collins (0-4), Mikey Boyle (0-2), John Griffin (0-1), Padraig Boyle (0-1), Jack Goulding (0-1 s/l), Stephen Murphy (0-1).
Limerick
1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)
2. Stephen Cahill (Tournafulla)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Richie English (Doon)
5. Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
7. Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher)
8. Darragh O Donovan (Doon)
9. Paul Browne (Bruff)
10. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
11. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
12. James Ryan (Garryspillane)
13. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
14. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
Subs:
25. Dan Morrissey (Ahane) for R McCarthy (33 min)
16. David McCarthy (Glenroe) for B Hennessy (HT)
23. Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh) for J Ryan (HT)
22. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh) for T Morrissey (54)
26. Kevin O Brien (Patrickswell) for B Nash (54)
21. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for K Hayesa (blood, 62)
Kerry
1. Aidan McCabe (Kilmoyley)
2. Billy Lyons (Causeway)
3. Paud Costello (Ballyduff)
18. Sean Weir (Crotta O’Neills)
5. John Griffin (Lixnaw) John Buckley (Lixnaw)
27. James Godley (Kilmoyley)
7. James O’Connor (Abbeydorney)
8. Tomas O’Connor (Crotta O’Neills)
9. Tomas Casey (Causeway)
26. Keith Csarmody (Causeway)
11. Daniel Collins (Kilmoyley)
12. Mikey Boyle (Ballyduff)
13. Jack Goulding (Ballyduff)
14. Padraig Boyle (Ballyduff)
15. Shane Nolan (Crotta O’Neills)
Subs
17. Sean Nolan (Kilmoyley) for B Lyons (HT)
19. Paudie O’Connor (Kilmoyley) for T O’Connor (HT)
23. Philip Lucid (Ballyheigue) for P. Boyle (47)
20. Stephen Murphy (Causeway) for J Griffin (50)
21. Jordan Brick (Kilmoyley) for S Nolan (61)
Referee: John McCormack (Tipperary)
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