Limerick 0-24 Kerry 1-14Kerry came within an ace of producing one of the hurling shocks of the century when they pressed Limerick all the way in this Guinness All-Ireland SHC qualifier first-round clash before a huge attendance at Austin Stack Park on Saturday night.
With 15 minutes to go the scores were still deadlocked at 1-13 to 0-16 and at that stage a huge upset was still on the cards. However, Limerick's greater experience told in the finish and manager Dave Keane will be the first to admit that his side have to improve if they are to progress still further.
An estimated crowd of almost 7,000 could not believe what was unfolding before their eyes as Limerick appeared to be teetering on the brink of an ignominious exit from the championship. To their credit they dragged themselves back from the precipice and their experience and fitness saw them escape to victory in the final 10 minutes.
Limerick boss Keane, whose demeanour suggested that the departure of one of the county's greats, Ciarán Carey, during the week was heavy on his mind, must have been a worried man and whether it was this latest controversy to hit Limerick hurling or the fact that they took Kerry for granted, the winners looked a long way from All-Ireland winning material at the moment.
It was clear that those extra games against Westmeath, Carlow and Derry had greatly benefited the home side.
Kerry - with John Healy inspirational in goal (his lengthy clearances were a feature of the first half) and Aidan Healy who was solid at the back - played with the wind in the first half
With Michael Slattery, Shane Brick and Liam Boyle, in particular, adding to the scoring returns Kerry were four points clear at the break, 0-11 to 0-7.
Limerick responded well and two points from Niall Moran saw them reduce the gap to two points but Kerry hit back when Shane Brick fired home a great goal to take a five-point advantage with 11 minutes having elapsed.
Limerick were getting stronger and accurate shooting from man-of-the-match Conor Fitzgerald, whose nine points, all of which came from frees, proved the main difference in the end.
Aidan O'Shaughnessy had them a point clear with 13 minutes remaining and when Conor Fitzgerald, Niall Moran, Ollie Moran and Brian Begley tacked on points before the finish Limerick were mighty relieved to hear that final whistle.
This was a brave and gutsy performance by the home side and at the end of a successful year, Maurice Leahy, Eddie Murphy and former Tipperary great Cormac Bonnar can feel rightly proud of their charges.
LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, TJ Ryan, S McDonagh; P O'Dwyer, B Geary, M Foley; P Lawlor (0-1), E Foley (0-1); N Moran (0-6), O Moran (0-1), C Fitzgrald (0-9, frees); A O'Shaughnessy (0-3), B Begley (0-2), D Sheehan (0-1). Subs: C Smith for P O'Dwyer, E Mulcahy for S McDonagh, J Meskell for P Lawlor.
KERRY: J Healy; T Cronin, A Healy, I Brick; C Harris, C Flaherty, A Cronin; P Cronin, J McCarthy; L Boyle (0-4), B Brick (0-1), P O'Connell (0-1); JM Dooley; S Brick (1-5), M Slattery (0-3, two frees). Subs: K O'Sullivan for J McCarthy, G O'Brien for P O'Connell, D Young for JM Dooley.
Referee. S McMahon ( Clare).
