Classy Limerick claim league honours with ease

There was no sweet revenge for Kilkenny over Limerick as John Kiely's team won the 2023 Allianz Hurling League Division One final 2-20 to 0-15 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork on Sunday afternoon.

While it took Limerick 15 minutes to score from open play, once Seamus Flanagan raised a white flag, it was nothing but green as his team went on to lift the first national piece of silverware of the season.

The Treaty County even restricted Kilkenny to just five points in the second half, while they put over 1-7 after the break. This was the exact tally that Aaron Gillane left the pitch with in Cork, and he now adds another medal to glistening collection back in his home parish of Patrickswell.

At the start, it almost looked like it would be Kilkenny’s day as they went into an early three point lead with Adrian Mullen, Richie Reid, and Billy Drennan all putting over scores.

Limerick had to bide their time, especially with their first three points coming from frees.

Gillane put over all of these and tied things up, and Kiely’s team remained patient as they raised white flags at the City End in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Once Flanagn scored in the 15th minute, that was the start of a run that would accumulate in the trophy going to Shannonside.

Things truly swung their way when Barry Nash squeezed the sliotar underneath Eoin Murphy and that put Limerick into the lead for the first time.

Then Gillane got his first from open play and Diarmaid Byrnes put over back to back frees. Suddenly they were into a two point lead and all the momentum was with them.

Kilkenny only scored twice against this tide, with Eoin Cody only getting on the scoresheet in the 35th minute. Almost everything they tried was immediately responded to by Limerick, with Darragh