LIMERICK LOOKING TO CASH IN ON UNDER-21 TITLE
AT THIS grade, Limerick still remain a cautionary tale. A hat-trick of titles between 2000-02 were never properly cashed in at senior level, a county left to wonder just where it all went wrong for such a talented generation. The feeling around Semple Stadium on Saturday night is that they will be smarter about reaping the reward from another vintage crop. Aaron Gillane, the star of the show in an attacking sense is just one player with serious promise; others like Cian Lynch and Kyle Hayes have already made quick transitions from underage promise to players to fashion a senior team around. This second title in three years was won comfortably, a sevenpoint unanswered scoring burst in the first half with a strong wind at their backs setting the platform for victory against a Kilkenny team that never really caught fire, managing only four points from play all evening. ‘It is unbelievable,’ said Limerick manager Pat Donnelly. ‘We were on edge for the last couple of minutes. They executed the game-plan to perfection.’ With Galway winning senior and minor AllIrelands, and Limerick the Under-21, where do Kilkenny fit in the mix for 2018? ‘Same as everyone else,’ answered manager Eddie Brennan. ‘For years, everyone was chasing Kilkenny. I don’t see it as being the big catastrophe, the big shock everyone makes it out to be. You’re at the top for a prolonged period of time. All you’re doing is going back to the rest. To me, it’s evolution. It happens.’ LIMERICK: E McNamara; S Finn, D Fanning, D Joy; R Lynch, K Hayes, T Grimes; C Ryan, R Hanley; A Gillane, B Murphy (O O’Reilly 53), C Lynch (C Boylan 39); P Casey, T Morrissey (A La Touche Cosgrave 48), B Nash (L Lyons 62). Scorers: A Gillane 0-7 (2fs); P Casey, R Lynch (3f) 0-3; B Nash, C Lynch, C Boylan, O O’Reilly 0-1. Frees: 6 (3) Wides: 8 (7) KILKENNY: D Brennan; M Cody, C Delaney, N McMahon; H Lawlor, J Cleere, T Walsh; L Scanlon, R Leahy (D Mullen 45); J Walsh (P Lyng h-t), J Donnelly, S Morrissey (A Murphy 25); S Walsh, L Blanchfield, B Ryan (M Keoghan 42). Scorers: A Murphy 0-5 (4f, 1 ‘65); S Walsh (2f) 0-3; B Ryan, J Donnelly, L Blanchfield 0-1. Yellow card: L Scanlon 46 Frees: 5 (7) Wides: 5 (5) Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow)