15-7-18 hurling championship

ALL IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERS

KILKENNY 1-22 0-27 LIMRICK

GALLANT GALANE

Seamus Flanangan hit back for Limerick one minute later but Kilkenny were the dominant force.

James Maher scored their second point and that was followed by Reid’s first from a free. Kilkenny went 0-04 to 0-01 in front when Reid popped over his second free.

Limerick were wasteful in attack and Kilkenny ran up a 0-07 to 0-03 lead with Hogan on target with his third and Colin Fennelly scored a first point.

But Limerick almost goaled through Aaron Gillane in the 13th minute and the warning signs were definitely there.

Graeme Mulcahy scored first and Diarmuid Byrnes’ inspirational effort really drove Limerick on.

Maher scored his second point

Gillane scored either side of a big Declan Hannon point and the sides were level 0-08 to 0-08.

TJ Reid and Kyle Hayes traded points after Limerick should have scored a certain goal but Flanagan’s heavy pass was cut out by Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy.

Gearoid Hegarty and Maher scored for their sides but then Limerick went on a four-point run coming up to half-time. Hegarty scored after a stunning pass from Flanagan, and Mulcahy, Tom Morrissey and Darragh O’Donovan also found the range.

Conor Fogarty reduced the arrears for Kilkenny, and Fennelly’s second meant Kilkenny trailed by 0-15 to 0-12 at half-time.

TJ Reid scored a fourth free on the resumption but Limerick remained in the ascendency and Hegarty began the second onslaught.

Limerick were 0-17 to 0-13 in front when Murphy pulled off his third point-blank save, this time from Gillane in the 46th minute.

He was keeping them in the game and the outfield players scored three points in two minutes to leave them trailing by one in the 53rd minute.

Leahy made the impact off the bench with two scores and it was 0-19 to 0-18. Mulcahy should have goaled two minutes later but he took his point and it settled a shaky Limerick outfit.

Peter Casey came on for Flanagan after he missed another goal chance and Casey scored a crucial point with O’Donovan crowning that off from a sideline cut before he departed.

John Donnelly came on in the 62nd minute and after he scored a point he set up Hogan who swivelled and lashed his shot past Nickie Quaid Limerick goal three minutes later.

But Limerick retained their composure and scored three points in a row for a 0-25 to 1-21 lead before Leahy levelled it again in the 68th minute.

The game was hectic and the error count rose but Morrissey kept a cool head to give Limerick the lead in the 71st minute and Gillane finished it off.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0715/978792-limerick-prevail-in-classic-clash-with-cats/

MY OPINION

This is not the Kilkenny that we know so what has happened to them. You do sometimes wonder is Cody’s time over or is there just not the talent coming through. I do not take this result away from Limerick and if they do nothing else this season they will have beaten Kilkenny but momentum might have been what got them over the line.

CLARE 0-27 1-17 WEXFORD

KELLY KILLS OFF WEXFORD

All six forwards scored for Clare in the opening half with Kelly particularly outstanding, shooting 0-04 before the break and adding another one in the second-half.

Conor McDonald was the only Wexford forward to score from play in the opening half with his three points keeping them in touch.

Rory O’Connor slotted over five frees, with corner-back Damien Reck giving them an ideal start inside a minute but it was Clare who took over and picked off some excellent scores.

In all, eight Clare players scored before the break with subs Ian Galvin and Conor McGrath also hitting the target after the restart in an accomplished display.

Wexford needed a good start to the second-half and quick points from Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Lee Chin provided that.

But Clare responded through O’Donnell and Duggan and from there they were able to match each Wexford point and another free by Duggan put them 0-22 to 0-14 in front after 58 minutes.

Wexford got some hope when McDonald found the net 12 minutes from time while Collins hit back with a point for Clare, three efforts from Rory O’Connor cut the gap to 0-23 to 1-17 with five minutes left.

However, Clare came with a storming finish to land five points in a row.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0714/978672-clare-0-27-wexford-1-17/

MY OPINION

This was a very good win for Clare and it shows that in the battle of the underdogs it was more the Munster team that did the damage. Wexford were a big disappointment as they allowed Clare to play the way they wanted.