Gillane the star as Treaty threaten to spark a revolution
A FINAL act of the inter-county hurling year that was in keeping with the theme that the revolution years of the 1990s might just be upon us again.
Galway’s first win at senior level in 29 years was also noticeable for the fact that it was the first decider since 1996 without a member of hurling’s traditional ‘Big 3’ involved – Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork.
And now Limerick have been crowned worthy Under 21 champions for the second time in three seasons, beating those three traditional superpowers along the way. Plus Galway and Clare. Nobody can say they were not the best team in the competition.
In the 2014 minor final between the same two counties, John Walsh’s two second-half goals helped Kilkenny win one against the head; this time, the fact that the same player was replaced at half-time with Limerick leading by 0-11 to 0-4 showed how the favourites were living up to their billing, Aaron Gillane the star of the show in front of a crowd of 15,485 at Semple Stadium.
Limerick have been down the road before at this age grade, winning a hat-trick of AllIrelands between 2000-02, yet failing to translate that into senior success. But there is plenty to suggest they can build a solid foundation off this crop.
Alan Murphy’s dead-ball skills briefly threatened a Kilkenny revival in the second half but just four points from play show how Limerick always had their measure, as manager Eddie Brennan graciously conceded.
With Galway winning senior and minor All-Irelands, and Limerick the U21, where do Kilkenny fit in the mix for 2018?
‘Same as everyone else,’ he answered. ‘For years, everyone was chasing Kilkenny. It’s different. There’s a challenge there in front of them.
‘They just have to suck it in. For a long, long time, everybody else was looking at us doing it.
‘I don’t see it as being the big catastrophe, the big shock that 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. Just about putting the head down and going again. Same for Kilkenny across all age groups. Our minors were quite unlucky this year. They are the thin margins that define.
‘You have to have a bit of luck in sport as well; Limerick made their luck today.’
Limerick won the toss and elected to play with the backing of a significant breeze. Billy Ryan was doing his best to carry the fight for Kilkenny as he drifted deep to offer back-up around the middle but his team were living off scraps.
In that period from the fifth to the 18th minute, Limerick picked off seven points in a row, Gillane the most menacing of a big-name forward line. One score in particular stood out, coming after a clever pass from Cian Lynch, who was pulling all the strings in a free role around the half-forward line, even with his left thigh heavily strapped. The Patrickswell wing-forward dummied the shot on his left, tapped it back to himself and calmly slotted off his right.
Limerick’s glittering talent has been well flagged; less well so, the capacity for rolling their sleeves up, Peter Casey dispossessing Kilkenny men twice in-a-row, cranking up the pressure, as well as jinking his way to two classy points.
A seven-point cushion was no more than they deserved at the turn.
The fact that the second half was a fractured affair only suited Limerick, Kilkenny never generating any flow to their game or forcing ’keeper Eoghan McNamara into a save. Lynch’s forced replacement didn’t upset Limerick’s rhythm, a full 10 minutes of the second half passing before Robbie Hanley showed ferocious drive to burst through two tackles, popping the pass out to Gillane, who curled it over into the breeze to a huge roar.
Dropping a man back allowed Kyle Hayes to sit deep in the pocket, even if the formation into the wind saw the Kilkenny half-back line start to dominate.
Conor Boylan could have settled it as a contest after being played in brilliantly by a ball over the top, only to see Darren Brennan tip his skidded goal effort over the crossbar.
With Kyle Hayes making two big catches as Kilkenny rained high ball down in search of a goal, all that was left was a pitch invasion before captain Tom Morrissey lifted the cup.