GAELIC GAMES/NFL Division One final: Some classic Kilkenny craft, fiery Limerick resistance and a damp afternoon in Thurles created plenty of steam in yesterday's National Hurling League final. When it had evaporated, Kilkenny had a fourth title in five years and the county's 13th overall.
The six-point margin, 3-11 to 0-14, was a bit hard on the losers but they learned valuable lessons and in the words of Ger Loughnane, who was summarising for TG4 yesterday, Limerick lost nothing going into the Munster championship, which starts for them in two weeks against Tipperary.
Kilkenny's successful afternoon, punctuated with three goals - apparently timed for maximum heartbreak effect - brought to an end a satisfying campaign, which has echoes of four years ago when Brian Cody rebuilt a side during the spring that went on to win the league and All-Ireland double.
It was an entertaining match before an attendance of 16,804 with Limerick clawing themselves back into contention after both of Kilkenny's first two goals. But the third, which caused controversy, was a blow too many. Henry Shefflin, in only his second match back after long-term injury, notched 2-6 including 2-3 from play, and Cody agreed that his top forward was a "master craftsman".
Although happy with the infusion of young talent the Kilkenny manager wasn't conceding that the job was done.
"We still have very much an open panel and an open team. There's no such thing as people considering this our championship team. It may not be because we have players breathing down the necks of the players who were out there today. I said at the start of the league that we were in transition and we're still in transition."
Cody grew a little impatient with the repeated reminders that Kilkenny tend to take the league more seriously than other counties and the associated implication that they're pushing an open door each spring.
"There's a an awful lot of talk that we take the league seriously. We just take hurling seriously to be honest. Our players try very hard to get on the team and stay on the team and that's what it's all about.
"We're delighted today but obviously the championship season is about to start soon and at the end of the day that's the be-all and end-all."
His Limerick counterpart Joe McKenna was proud of his team's battling performance and the at times fast and furious hurling they produced while labouring in the absence of top scorer Mark Keane. But he was also bluntly unhappy with the display of Cork referee Diarmuid Kirwan, specifically in relation to Kilkenny's third and decisive goal.
"I thought we showed a lot of character and played very good hurling. Decisions by the referee were awful. All we want is fair play and I don't think we got it today."
The allegation about the goal was that Martin Comerford had deliberately dropped his hurl in the build-up to Shefflin's second goal.
"The man dropped his hurley," said McKenna. "That's a free out. That was the goal that turned the whole game. Saying all that, fair dues to Kilkenny. They're a very, very strong side and they're rebuilding too. I'd have to be very happy with that performance."
Earlier Dublin had breathed a sigh of relief after a rather featureless 0-17 to 1-6 win over Kerry in the Division Two final. It rounded off a satisfactory season in which they had won all of their matches and bounced back to the top flight after just one year away.
The imminent championship will be a sterner test of the team's improvement in Tommy Naughton's first full season but at least they're back in the elite ranks for next season's National Hurling League.
In football, Louth continued their renaissance with a 1-12 to 1-9 win over Donegal in the National Football League Division Two final replay at Breffni Park. Louth fans travelled in force and will now be looking forward to taking on neighbours Meath in the Leinster championship on May 14th.
