Hello and welcome to The42′s coverage of today’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling championship final between Kilkenny and Limerick.
Kilkenny (U21 vs Limerick)
1. Darren Brennan (St Lachtains)
2. Michael Cody (Dunnamaggin)
3. Conor Delaney (Erins Own)
4. Niall McMahon (Erins Own)
5. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
6. Jason Cleere (Bennettsbridge)
7. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan)
8. Luke Scanlon (James Stephens)
9. Richie Leahy (Rower Inistioge)
10. John Walsh (Mullinavat)
11. John Donnelly (Thomastown)
12. Sean Morrissey (Bennettsbridge)
13. Shane Walsh (Tullaroan)
14. Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge)
15. Billy Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan)
Subs:
Alan Murphy (Glenmore)
James Burke (Thomastown)
Darren Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
Aidan Nolan (Dicksboro)
Pat Lyng (Rower Inistioge)
Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
Eoin Kenny (Slieverue)
Conor O’Carroll (Lisdowney)
James Bergin (Conahy Shamrocks)
Limerick team to face Kilkenny
1. Eoghan McNamara (Doon)
2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen)
4. Dan Joy (Kilmallock)
5. Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
7. Thomas Grimes (Na Piarsaigh)
8. Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen)
9. Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock)
10. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
11. Barry Murphy (Doon)
12. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)(Captain)
15. Barry Nash (South Liberties).
Subs:
16. Cian Hedderman (Ballybrown)
17. Paudie Ahern (Killeedy)
18. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
19. Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen)
20. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh)
21. Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen)
22. Mike Mackey (Adare)
23. Conor McSweeney (South Liberties)
24. Jack O Grady (Knockainey).
“I’ve read an awful lot of books about management and sports people looking for little nuggets here and there,” says Brennan. “The one thing I’ve learned is you have to have your own philosophy on it, you have to go and say I can’t be anyone else.
“Last year I focused a little bit on sweepers too much whereas this year we focused on ourselves. Yes we look at the opposition to see where their strengths are, but ultimately it is about us dictating the game.”
With a few minutes to go before throw-in, have a read of what Kilkenny U21 boss Eddie Brennan had to say before the final.
‘The one thing I’ve learned is you have to have your own philosophy’ – Eddie Brennan
Kilkenny’s Conor Delaney: ‘Our main goal at the end of the year is to win the All-Ireland. We’ll be working on getting our preparation right.’
Here’s the match report from todays’ All-Ireland U21 B Hurling final, where Kerry edged out Wicklow by 2-12 to 2-08:
Kerry land 8th All-Ireland U21 B hurling crown with win over Wicklow
And we have the first score. Shane Walsh pops it over to put Kilkenny ahead 0-01 0-00/
Kilkenny 0-01 0-02 Limerick
Barry Nash smashes it over to edge Limerick in front after five minutes.
Kilkenny 0-01 0-04 Limerick
That’s three with reply for Limerick. They’re motoring now.
Kilkenny 0-01 0-05 Limerick
The rain is coming down thick and heavy as Limerick open a four-point lead.
Kilkenny 0-01 0-06 Limerick
Aaron Gillane is causing a wreck in the Kilkenny defence. He hits Limerick’s sixth point of the day.
Kilkenny 0-01 0-07 Limerick
Gillane hits his second on the bounce. This time from a well taken free.
Kilkenny 0-02 0-07 Limerick
Billy Ryan brings some relief back to Kilkenny with a badly needed score after some 17 minutes since their opening point.
Kilkenny 0-02 0-08 Limerick
Peter Casey responds for the Shannonsiders with a nice point from the sideline. Back to a six-point game.
Kilkenny 0-02 0-08 Limerick
Kilkenny 0-03 0-08 Limerick
Substitution on the Kilkenny team. Alan Murphy is on for Seán Morrissey.
Kilkenny 0-03 0-09 Limerick
Cian Lynch with a lovely score after powering through the Kilkenny cover and shortening the grip to pop it over.
Kilkenny 0-04 0-09 Limerick
The Cats reduce the deficit again to five as half-time looms.
Kilkenny 0-04 0-10 Limerick
But once again, Aaron Gillane is on hand to stretch Limerick’s advantage once more. That’s his fifth point of the day.
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HT: Limerick 0-11 0-04 Kilkenny All-Ireland U21 final
Ronan Lynch got the last point for Limerick before the break with his second long-range point from a free today.
Kilkenny 0-04 0-11 Limerick
Ronan Lynch making a great start to the second half. Great block.
Kilkenny 0-04 0-11 Limerick
Kilkenny 0-04 0-12 Limerick
Great strength from Gillane as he sweeps over another point for Limerick.
Meanwhile, Kiklenny have brought on some subs to freshen up the attack. Billy Ryan is making way at the moment.
Kilkenny 0-06 0-13 Limerick
Peter Casey finishes the ball over the bar after a free in from Ronan Lynch. This is becoming target practise for them.
Kilkenny 0-07 0-14 Limerick
Ronan Lynch with another fine point. Alan Murphy tags on a point to keep the difference to seven points.
Kilkenny 0-08 0-14 Limerick
Alan Murphy nails a free from an acute angle. With six between them now maybe there’s still a chance for Kilkenny.
Kilkenny 0-09 0-14 Limerick
Great score for Kilkenny from John Donnelly. The Cats’ workrate in the last few minutes has been exceptional.
Kilkenny 0-09 0-15 Limerick
SAVE!! Great save from Darren Brennan to prevent a certain goal and deflect it over the bar.
Kilkenny 0-10 0-15 Limerick
Alan Murphy scores a ’65 after a goal opportunity for Kilkenny goes over the line. Eddie Brennan’s side are applying loads of pressure now.
Kilkenny 0-11 0-15 Limerick
Alan Murphy has changed this game with a fifth point after his introduction. They trail Limerick by just four points now.
Kilkenny 0-11 0-17 Limerick
Aaron Gillane and Oisin O’Reilly combine to step up again to push Limerick out again with a point each.
Kilkenny 0-11 0-17 Limerick
The rain is starting to fall again in Semple Stadium as Limerick hold a six-point lead with less than a minute of normal time remaining.
Kilkenny 0-11 0-17 Limerick
Aaron Gillane has been awarded the man of the match award. Deserved?
FT: Limerick defeat Kilkenny to win the All-Ireland U21 hurling final
If you’re a young defender, training with Buffon, Chellini, Bonucci and Ronaldo would be like going to college. A superb choice!
@Nicholas Ryan: 100%. It’ll be some apprenticeship
I’m not going for the money … And then proceeds to not explain why he’s going there…. Personally I think it’s because them Italians are a great bunch of lads
He went to one of the best clubs in Europe, I don’t see the problem, he was going to get big money anywere he went, that’s the result of being in demand.
I believe him. He went from one top footballing nation to another.
Really?
Juve due a CL methinks.
Going purely because pizza tastes best there….
It’s well known that Juventus offered by far the biggest financial package for him… and that his heart was initially in Barcelona. With Raiola as his agent there’s no doubting money played some part as it always does for him.
But still, I wouldn’t really blame him.
He’s going to a club that is dominating its domestic competition , will play alongside Ronaldo before it’s too late , for a team that is gunning for the CL and with a favourable tax system for world class footballers … 3 years in Italy and he’ll be a master of central defending … there isn’t a single team that didn’t want him and his stock will just go up and up .. Raiola may not be the most likeable of agents but he produces the goods for his clients , Bale should take note