4 minutes: — Gearóid Hegarty goal for Limerick
Excuse Limerick supporters if they replay this one over and over again in their heads. Moments after Graeme Mulcahy tipped his first shot wide of the post, Hegarty charges down on to a long-range free from goalkeeper Nickie Quaid from down the far side of the Cusack Stand.
At this moment no one sees the goal chance except of course for Hegarty, who pounds his way past Richie Reid, sidesteps Mikey Carey, and then somehow picks his spot in the top-right corner, flying it past Eoin Murphy, only one of the best goalkeepers in the land. He’d no chance of stopping it, Hegarty turning away under the Hogan Stand to celebrate.
Just like he did in last year’s All-Ireland, Hegarty quickly lays down a marker for the performance that will follow, the St Patrick’s man finishing with 1-5, all from play, winning ball for fun at times and softly killing Kilkenny. Another All Star beckons.
Limerick 1-1, Kilkenny 0-0
22 minutes: Mike Casey fetch for Limerick
With the game properly heating up in the intense Croke Park heat, Kilkenny are now piling on greater pressure all over the field, Adrian Mullen scoring a brilliant point from play, despite being off balance, only Barry Nash denying them another score moments later.
Then Mike Casey reminds us all why he’s one of the best defenders in the country, rising up into sunshine to make a clean fetch, winning a free in the process as he crashes back down to the ground, Padraig Walsh the guilty party for Kilkenny. He does require some attention for a few minutes, although few doubted his ability and desire to continue.
The free is just beyond the 65-metre line and not quite straight down the middle, only no bother whatsoever to Diarmuid Byrnes, who strikes it majestically straight between the posts.
It further sets the mood for a period of ruthless defending from Limerick. Martin Keoghan winning possession shortly afterwards, eyeing a shot before he’s shunted over the line for a wide.
Limerick 1-11, Kilkenny 0-9
38 minutes: Billy Ryan goal for Kilkenny
Down four points at half-time, 1-17 to 0-16, Kilkenny need a bright start, but instead send their first shot wide, then concede the first two scores to the classy Kyle Hayes and the always lively Aaron Gillane.
Kilkenny needed something and something fast: as if on cue up steps Walter Walsh.
Introduced at the break for Cian Kenny, Walsh wins the Kilkenny puck-out and immediately breaks into a swerving run in the direction of the Limerick goal from the Hogan Stand side.
He waltzes past the Barry Nash and still cuts again inside, passing across the face of goal to Martin Keoghan deftly passes off again to Barry Ryan with any space fast disappearing.
Still he gets his shot off just as the Limerick defenders approach, low to the left of Nickie Quaid. Keoghan’s vision was pure class, and although Limerick promptly reply with a point from the superbly calm point from Hegarty, the game is now firmly in the boiling hot melting pot, Kilkenny back to three.
Limerick 1-19, Kilkenny 1-16
47 minutes: Martin Keoghan goal for Kilkenny
Limerick are keeping their lead out to four, TJ Reid testing the Limerick defence but nothing comes of it. Not this time anyway.
Because moments later Reid grabs a brilliant ball cleanly out the air, sent deep from the heart of the Kilkenny half-back line.
Reid falls his knees and losses his hurl in the process, still the Ballyhale maestro manages to release the ball with his palm out to the unmarked Adrian Mullen, despite the close attention of Sean Finn.
Mullen shows incredible vision to pick out Keoghan with a super diagonal pass deftly struck. Keoghan is loosely marked too but still has a lot of control to do but he never looses sight of his target, keeping the close at hand before unleashing his shot on the turn, again giving Nickie Quaid no chance of stopping it as he shoots inside the near post.
Kilkenny then quickly follow up with a super long-range point from John Donnelly, just on the field, and with that the sides are level.
Limerick 1-22, Kilkenny 2-19
70 minutes: Gearóid Hegarty point for Limerick
Four minutes of added time have just been announced, after Kyle Hayes won a free, duly converted by Aaron Gillane, pushing Limerick’s lead out again to four points. Still not exactly safe with Kilkenny still in hunting mood.
With Limerick’s full-back line under intense pressure, they win a free out and go marching for another score as the game slips into added time.
Will O’Donoghue sends in the long ball to Hegarty, who runs into scoring territory and space and calm as he likes it sends the ball over the bar, breaking the last of the Kilkenny it seems.
Although Kilkenny do finish with the last three scores, this was decisive, pushing Limerick 1-31 to Kilkenny 2-23, Hegarty proving once again he is the master of the big game performance. Awesome.
Full time: Limerick 1-31, Kilkenny 2-26
