Lyng’s charges show courage to down green machine
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
Allianz National Hurling League Semi-Final
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Kilkenny 3-17
Limerick 1-15
Derek Lyng masterminded a much-needed win over the green machine of Limerick in the first of the two Allianz League semi-finals last weekend to set up a final clash with Clare next weekend. The Cats hit three majors as they showed their claws on Leeside to upset the odds and beat John Kiely’s side.
Despite losing former captain Eoin Cody to a second yellow card in the early stages of the second half, the Noresiders showed great spirit to outscore their feared opponents while at a numerical disadvantage, but The Treaty’s Peter Casey evened things up when he swung his hurl in the direction of Paddy Deegan with 56 minutes played. Kilkenny maintained their scoring advantage to the final whistle to claim a confidence-boosting win.
The Cats were playing with the aid of a stiff breeze in the opening period but found themselves behind when Limerick defender Diarmuid Brynes split the Kilkenny posts with a placed ball effort on halfway with 2 minutes played. Worse was to follow just two minutes later, when a long free out of the Limerick defence was spilled by Dicksboro’s Cillian Buckley which allowed Aaron Gillane to pick up possession and sprint clear before striking his shot into the ground and beyond the diving Eoin Murphy. From the restart, John Donnelly was turned over and the ball worked to Cathal O’Neill who rifled over having found himself in acres of space in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to leave the All-Ireland champions five ahead with the same number of minutes played.
TJ Reid got the scoreboard moving for the Cats in the 9th minute from a free after Barry Nash had fouled Eoin Cody. The Marble City men then got their first major of the game when Jordan Molloy’s long ball into the Limerick defence was collected by Eoin Cody who turned his marker Nash before striking a lovely effort across Nickie Quaid in the Limerick goal. From Quaid’s puck out, Molloy and John Donnelly forced the turnover which Billy Ryan dispatched between the Treaty men’s posts from distance to level matters.
The blistering start to the semi-final clash continued from the restart. Cian Kenny gave a lovely pass out to Paddy Deegan whose searching ball was claimed by Cody. The Shamrocks Ballyhale man beat Aaron Costello before striking his shot, which Nickie Quaid could only deflect into the path of Luke Hogan, who reacted superbly to finish past the despairing Effin man’s dive. Lyng’s charges applied more pressure to the restart and worked the ball to Adrian Mullen who struck over a lovely point from distance to stretch the Kilkenny lead to 4 points with 13 minutes played on the banks of the Lee.
Referee James Owens, who to put it politely, didn’t have his best game, then issued Eoin Cody with a yellow card following his challenge on Cathal O’Neill. Another questionable decision resulted in a ‘soft’ free which allowed Patrickswell’s Gillane to register the first score for the men in green for almost 10 minutes. Adrian Mullen then went on a powerful run which saw him halted illegally and TJ went for goal from the free, which Limerick just about managed to scramble clear.
Limerick were looking very ragged in defence and unsure for the first time in many a game and this showed again when Kilkenny’s pressure and persistence saw them turn over their opponents again and Jordan Molloy kicked the sliotar into space and found Adrian Mullen who popped over his second point of the game. Limerick’s number seven Cathal O’Neill then did likewise, raiding forward again from his half-back berth to show his attacking instinct.
A free from under the stand on the left side of Páirc Uí Chaoimh allowed TJ to tag another point, but the legendary forward was about to strike the crucial third major for the men in black and amber. Limericks Cian Lynch was harried and hurried and as a result, dispossessed by a combination of Jordon Molloy, John Donnelly and Paddy Deegan. Donnelly gave a pass to his captain whose vision saw TJ moving into space and he executed a pass straight to the Shamrocks Ballyhale man. TJ beat his man before striking a lovely goal past Nickie Quaid. The Kilkenny travelling support couldn’t quite believe the scoreboard, 3-5 to 1-5.
Another turnover saw TJ pick up the ball and give a pass to the advancing Cillian Buckley, who rifled over a stunning point from almost halfway. The final point of the first half came from a stunned Limerick, a free by Aaron Gillane after another strange James Owens decision, when Paddy Deegan clearly played the sliotar and not Peter Casey. Derke Lyng and his management team headed to the changing rooms with a 6 –point lead in Cork.
Richie Reid was introduced for the second half in place of Cillian Buckley as play got underway. The Treaty got the scoring going with a fine point from a tight angle by Monaleen’s Donnacha Ó Dálaigh to reduce the Cats lead to five points. John Kiely’s team were given a huge boost moments later when James Owens showed a second yellow card to Eoin Cody for the slightest contact on Declan Hannon. Again, James Owens, not in his finest form.
Dromin’s David Reidy then struck over a sweet score from out the pitch as Limerick pulled another one back on their rivals. TJ settled his side with their first two scores of the half with another fine placed ball brace. Gearoid Hegarty then benefited from a misplaced Paddy Deegan pass to open his account for the day.
Mossy Keoghan was then introduced in place of O’Loughlin’s Luke Hogan to add a bit more experience to the Cats forward unit. TJ then struck over a ‘65 and another free, either side of a nice score from Aaron Gillane. Adrian Mullen then notched another lovely point, before Hegarty’s trip on Richie Reid gave his brother a further point from the placed ball. Aaron Gillane then notched another free for his side, before Wexford whistler Owens evened up the numbers when he issued Peter Casey with a straight red, following a conversation with his umpires.
TJ then popped over another free, before being replaced by Galmoy’s Billy Drennan. Owen Wall, who had replaced the bloodied Billy Ryan, then missed a glorious chance for a fourth goal, batting his shot just wide. Billy Drennan then fired over point to stretch the Cats lead to 8 points. Interestingly, Limerick manager Kiely had withdrawn Cian Lynch, Aaron Gillane and Declan Hannon, possibly with bigger games ahead in Munster. Galmoy’s Drennan also popped over a free, his first since replacing TJ. Ahane’s Tom Morrissey replied in kind for Limerick.
Drennan showed his skill again when he converted a ‘65 as the steam and sting appeared to have gone from the game. Morrissey and Reidy struck the final two scores from a rusty Limerick, while Mossy Keoghan had the final say, striking over a stunning point from the left sideline. Final score in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Kilkenny 3-17, Limerick 1-15.
KILKENNY: E Murphy; S Murphy, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, P Deegan, C Buckley (0-01); C Kenny, J Molloy; A Mullen (0-03), J Donnelly, B Ryan (0-01); L Hogan (1-00), TJ Reid (1-08, 0-07f, 0-01 65), E Cody (1-00).
Subs: R Reid for Blanchfield (35+1-h-t, blood), R Reid Buckley (h-t), M Keoghan (0-01) for Hogan (45), O Wall for Ryan (52-f-t, blood), D Corcoran for Deegan (57-59, blood), B Drennan (0-03, 1f, 1 65) for TJ Reid (60), T Clifford for Donnelly (69), K Blanchfield for Kenny (70+1).
LIMERICK: N Quaid; B Nash, S Finn, A Costello; D Byrnes (0-01f), D Hannon, C O’Neill (0-02); W O’Donoghue, C Lynch; G Hegarty (0-01), A English, T Morrissey (0-02, 2f); D Ó Dálaigh (0-01), A Gillane (1-05, 0-03f), P Casey (0-01).
Subs: D Reidy (0-02, 1f) for English (h-t), C Boylan for Lynch (55), S Flanagan for Gillane (59), M Quinlan for Hannon (61), A O’Connor for Hegarty (67).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford)
SHERRY SAYS…
Hands up, I wasn’t expecting that result. I know Limerick hasn’t always gone full tilt at the league, but I’d imagine their management team will be quick to remind their panel that when you are off the pace and forced into uncharacteristic errors, the playing field is very much levelled.The Treaty defence was opened up time and time again by a probing Kilkenny team, and on another day, Derek Lyng’s charges could have had one or two further majors. The likes of Barry Nash, Aaron Costello and the returning Sean Finn looked rusty and on the back foot throughout.The Cats, well they did purr at times and were clinical at the right moments. On championship days, I’d say you would need three majors against Kiely’s men, but to get a first win against Limerick in a few years will do the panel’s confidence no harm at all.TJ was TJ, Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Jordan Molloy and Cian Kenny worked tirelessly for the Cats cause across the 70-odd minutes. Molloy in particular was impressive, being new to the intercounty scene.James Owens, the Wexford whistler, surely the GAA can do better and improve the standard of referees. Others, more capable have been forced to retire. The teams provide the entertainment and should be the focal point, not the ref. No one wants the James Owens Show.Kilkenny have the Allianz League final to look forward to next week. The Banner await. Silverware would be very welcome ahead of a championship tilt. One more step.
