Ahane retained the Limerick senior hurling championship yesterday when they beat Kilmallock in a physical final replay at the Gaelic Grounds. Backed by a strong breeze Ahane led by seven points to 1-3 at half time but few gave them much chance in the second half due to the weather conditions. However, they scored the first four points of the half which put firmly in the driving seat and it was only a few minutes from the end that Kilmallock registered their first point. They followed that with a second goal in injury time.

AHANE: F McCarthy, A Collins, K Herbert, M Flynn, C Smith (0-1), O Moran (03), A Smith, J Meskell, S O'Connor, B Meskell (0-1), J Moran (0-1), T Herbert (0-6), J Mullins (0-1), T Moran, P Smith (0-1). Sub: J O'Grady for T Moran.

KILMALLOCK: T Hennessy, D Barry, M Cronin, S O'Grady, A Maguire, D Clarke (02), J Connery, M Houlihan (0-2), M O'Riordan, J Fitzgerald, M Nelligan (0-1), P Barrett, P Tobin, B Hanley (1-0), P Connery. Subs: M Lyons for Fitzgerald; J Cronin (1-0) f or Barrett.

Referee: J O'Mahony (Limerick).