Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

LIMERICK 6-21 KERRY 3-8

By Jackie Cahill at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

Limerick collected their first victory of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B campaign – on a day when Wexford took a firm hold on the promotion race.

John Kiely’s charges could be looking at an eighth season in the second tier next year, as an opening day defeat to Wexford looks like it could be a costly result.

Limerick bounced back to hammer Kerry this afternoon at the Gaelic Grounds, in front of just 1,065 spectators.

Limerick beat Kerry by 4-28 to 0-16 in the Munster Senior Hurling League and inflicted another heavy beating on Fintan O’Connor’s visitors.

Ahead by 10 points at the break, Limerick kicked on in the second half, as Ronan Lynch led the way in the scoring stakes with a massive total haul of 3-11.

Padraig Boyle’s hat-trick of goals for Kerry proved in vain as the Kingdom suffered their first defeat of the League campaign, having claimed victory over Laois last weekend.

Limerick could only take care of their own business and that they did, despite the spirited challenge of a Kerry team that finished with 14 men, when Shane Nolan was issued with a straight red card late on.

And Lynch could have finished with 4-10 rather than 3-11, as his second half penalty struck the crossbar and went over, rather than under.

But Lynch contented himself with three second half goals as Limerick eventually ran riot. The hosts recovered from the concession of two Boyle goals to lead comfortably at half-time, 2-13 to 2-3.

Boyle grabbed his first goal in the 10th minute, finishing a fine move involving Shane Nolan and Colum Harty.

Limerick, playing with a slight breeze, rallied to lead by 0-7 to 1-1 before Boyle struck again eight minutes later, brilliantly fielding brother Mikey’s sideline ball before rattling a low drive into the corner of the net.

That score levelled the game at 2-1 to 0-7 but Limerick, with Seanie Tobin, Tom Morrissey and Ronan Lynch contributing all, but one goal of their first half tally, won the remainder of the half by 2-6 to 0-2.

Limerick’s opening goal came in the 26th minute, as Graeme Mulcahy latched onto a precise ball from James Ryan to finish well.

And Tom Morrissey’s injury-time goal increased Limerick’s advantage, before Jordan Conway and Lynch traded points.  

Lynch hit the net from a 20m free to kick-start the second half goal glut and 17 minutes from time, he was credited with a scruffy effort for his second major.

Kevin O’Brien’s first touch after coming on as sub saw him score Limerick’s fifth goal ten minutes from home, as Boyle replied in kind within a minute for Kerry.

Eight minutes from time, Lynch rattled his penalty off the crossbar and over, after O’Brien was fouled, before the Na Piarsaigh man completed his treble in the 67th minute, again from a blistering 20m free.

Scorers for Limerick: Ronan Lynch 3-11 (2-5fs, 265s, 0-1 pen), Tom Morrissey 1-3, Graeme Mulcahy 1-1, Seanie Tobin 0-4, Kevin O’Brien 1-0, James Ryan and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Kerry: **Padraig Boyle 3-0, Shane Nolan 0-5f, Patrick Kelly, Jordan Conway and Jack Goulding (f) 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Stephen Cahill, Richie McCarthy, Richie English; Colin Ryan, Seamus Hickey, Declan Hannon; John Fitzgibbon, James Ryan; Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey, Cian Lynch; Graeme Mulcahy, Ronan Lynch, Sean Tobin.  

Subs: William O’Donoghue for Hayes (h.t.), Darragh O’Donovan for C Lynch (44), Pat Ryan for Fitzgibbon (56), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave for Mulcahy (56), Kevin O’Brien for Tobin (59).

KERRY: Aiden McCabe; Bryan Murphy, Rory Horgan, Sean Weir; Paud Costello, Patrick Kelly, Darren Dineen; Paudie O’Connor, Colum Harty; Shane Nolan, Mikey Boyle, Jordan Conway; Keith Carmody, Padraig Boyle, Jack Goulding.  

Subs: James O’Connor for M Boyle (h.t.), John Buckley for Costello (55), Jason Wallace for Carmody (58), Stephen Murphy for Conway (58), James Godley for Kelly (59).

REFEREE: Alan Kelly (Galway).