Morrissey leads way for crafty Cats
KILKENNY booked their place in the semi-finals with a convincing victory over Limerick in Thurles.
A scoring spree in the final stages of the first half turned the game in Kilkenny’s favour, with Jack Morrissey’s goal helping them into a six-point half-time lead.
Richie Mulrooney’s side then dominated the second half and further goals from Morrissey and substitute Killian Hogan saw them home to a comfortable victory.
The game had been level on six occasions before Kilkenny’s stunning end to the opening half hour turned the game in their favour.
Mulrooney said afterwards that he was happy with how his side have managed to bounce back from defeats to Galway and Dublin in their last two games.
“To be fair to the 20 lads that played today, to a man they carried out everything we asked them to do,” said the Kilkenny manager.
“We asked them to enjoy themselves, express themselves, to play with pace and to out-work Limerick and they did.”
Mulrooney revealed that one of the goals his team had at the start of the season was to get to Croke Park and he was delighted that his charges have achieved that goal.
“We are there now in the last four and I think that we have as good a chance as anybody,” Mulrooney said. “It’s all about Tipperary next Sunday and we are going to start thinking about that now.
“We met each other in the Arrabawn final last year and we scrapped over the line but on that day we had four games and they had to play five.
“They are a really good team and it’s going to take a lot to get over them but we are in Croke Park now and that’s where you want to be. The players deserve great credit for the work they have put in.
Mulrooney added: “Of course you want to be winning Leinster and All-Ireland titles but you really want to play in Croke Park. We have very good, talented hurlers and they now have the opportunity to play there.”