Limerick Ratings - Pat Nolan
NICKIE QUIAD
Couldn’t be faulted for first Kilkenny goal, may be disappointed that he didn’t close off the angle at his near post better for the second. Distribution was on point as usual, set up an important score for Gearoid Hegarty straight after Billy Ryan’s goal to get Limerick moving again: 7
SEAN FINN
Not his best season for Limerick all told but was a steady hand when the need was greatest in both the semi-final and final. Didn’t tread much water on various opponents. Carelessly allowed himself to be dispossessed by Adrian Mullen in the second half but didn’t pay a heavy price: 7
MIKE CASEY
His first All-Ireland final in four years after enduring ongoing knee problems in each of the last two seasons and slotted back in as well as could be expected. Was marking TJ Reid, who was Kilkenny’s most influential player, for periods but had his own moments too, including a big fetch in the first half: 7
BARRY NASH
His best season yet for Limerick, capped off with a fine showing here. An attacker at heart, he has acquired the dark arts that every defender needs to call on from time to time as he hauled TJ Reid down to prevent a first half goal: 8
DIARMUID BYRNES
A performance that would have earned him man of the match on most other days, but he may have the Hurler of the Year award as a source of consolation yet. A terrific display of striking from Byrnes, who drove out with ball time after time: 9
DECLAN HANNON
He’s out on his own now as the most successful captain in hurling history, as lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup a fourth time takes him clear of Christy Ring. Started well and never let up, sweeping up danger and launching Limerick attacks all afternoon: 8
DAN MORRISEY
A second All-Ireland at wing-back after winning the last two at full-back. Distribution let him down at times and he wasn’t as prominent as his half-back colleagues, but hit a nice score before half-time and set up an important point for his brother Tom in the second half. Troubled by Walter Walsh at times: 7
WILLIAM O'DONOGHUE
A disappointing performance to round off a below par season for O’Donoghue, who was much more prevalent in the 2020 and ‘21 successes. His touch was off and he sloppily lost a couple of balls out over the sideline. Set up Dan Morrissey’s point but ought to have been his score instead: 6
DARRAGH O'DONOVAN
None of the four midfielders made a notable imprint on the game and O’Donovan was called ashore midway through the second half, not long after he had been hooked in possession. Deserved his All Star last year but form has tailed off quite a bit in 2022: 5
GEAROID HEGARTY
It says a lot about the quality of Hegarty’s performance that his brilliant goal may not even have been his best moment as a couple of the five points that he scored thereafter were absolutely stupendous, not least his last one in injury time. Had his fingerprints on other scores too: 9 MOTM
KYLE HAYES
Another fine showing from Hayes, who dominated Richie Reid. Not only scored 0-4 but had a hand in several others and won a couple of converted frees, including the one from which Limerick got their second last score to put them just out of Kilkenny’s reach: 8
TOM MORRISSEY
One of a number of players that stepped it up on their semi-final showing. Caught for a foul on Billy Ryan late in the first half TJ Reid converted to help keep Kilkenny in touch but scored 0-4, the most important of which was a swift riposte to a big Reid free in the 58th minute, and set up another point: 8
AARON GILLANE
Lively in the first half but faded in the second after hitting his third point from play in the 38th minute. Touch seemed to desert him from general play and Huw Lawlor got on top of him, though he slotted an important late free to take his tally to 0-7: 7
SEAMUS FLANAGAN
Matching his Munster final performance was always going to be difficult but he was well short of it for the second game running here and was part of a full-forward line that was very much overshadowed by their half-forward colleagues. Still, chipped in with 0-2 that ultimately made the difference: 6
GRAEME MULCAHY
Not the razor sharp player he was back in 2018, has struggled to fill Peter Casey void. Had two wides and was hooked from an easy point chance in the second half, albeit Byrnes scored the resultant 65. Also conceded a needless free on Mikey Butler which TJ Reid converted: 5
Subs: Peter Casey 6, David Reidy 6, Conor Boylan 7, Cathal O’Neill 7.
Kilkenny ratings - Karl O'Kane
EOIN MURPHY
You don’t often see Murphy beaten from the range Hegarty did, but it was a superbly placed shot. Didn’t have many more saves to make. Was efficient in everything he did thereafter, zipping the ball around with confidence. Plenty of his long deliveries were on the money: 7
MIKEY BUTLER
A little jittery early on when it came to short puck outs, but was very sticky on Graeme Mulcahy, although his man did hit two early wides. Marked Peter Casey when he arrived on 55 minutes and only allowed him one chance. Won two frees for Reid points. Had a strong second half: 7
HUW LAWLOR
Looked under pressure early on, marking Aaron Gillane, who shot three points from play, but really grew into the contest and bossed the duel in the second half. Touch tight on every ball that came in, he rarely allowed Gillane to win the ball he usually does. Not many manage that: 8
TOMMY WALSH
Gave one great first half pass for a Padraig Walsh point. Scored a late point himself. Did a very good job on Seamus Flanagan, who was taken off on the hour mark. Never allowed his man to steal in on goal. Flanagan found the space for three shots and scored two of them: 7
MIKEY CAREY
Carey had a fine first half, even though the Kilkenny half back line were under all sorts of pressure. Scored a point and had a number of intercepts. Wasn’t as prominent after the break as Tom Morrissey roared into the game: 6
RICHIE REID
Was under serious pressure at times aerially on Kyle Hayes, which is hardly a surprise on a 6, 6” athlete, but kept at it, trying to curb his man and sweep back when he could. Shot one point from play, but had a second half wide when Kilkenny had momentum. 6
PADDY DEEGAN
Tasked with marking Gearoid Hegarty and tried manfully. Hegarty hit 1-5. Deegan managed two points of his own, but also had a wide and dropped one short. Offered defiant resistance winning a couple of big frees. Kept driving his side on. Taken off late on: 6
CIAN KENNY
Never really got himself into the contest and was taken off at half-time. Conceded an early free. Playing at midfield found the step up in physicality against Limerick a big one. Might have been given a few minutes after half-time. Replaced by Walter Walsh: 5
CONOR BROWNE
Off as a blood sub between the 17th and 25th minutes. Won a 17th minute for a free, but not involved in creating or taking scores. Dualed hard with O’Donoghue and O’Donovan. Overall the Limerick pair probably shaded the duel without being spectacular. Taken off after 53 minutes: 5
TJ REID
Imperious bar a 65th minute decision to go for goal when a point would have put Kilkenny level. Didn’t score from play, but nailed nine frees and had just one wide. Has no peers in terms of use of the ball. His fielding was exceptional. Kept Kilkenny afloat in the first half. Directly assisted eight points and made the second goal: 9
PADRAIG WALSH
Obviously hasn’t been fully fit this year. Again, withdrawn early in the second half, but had two points to his name by that stage. Also hit two wides, one in each half. Kilkenny will be anxious to get him right and ready to go next season: 6
EOIN CODY
Hasn’t been at his devastating best over the last month and was well held here. Taken off on 59 minutes with the game in the melting pot. Scored once from play, set up a 14th minute point and gave the assist for the second goal but had two second half wides : 6
ADRIAN MULLEN
Kept at it and finished with three points from play from four shots, which is a fine scoring average. Moved to midfield at half-time when Walter Walsh came in and really stormed into the game. Gave William O’Donoghue plenty to ponder: 7
MARTIN KEOGHAN
A disruptive presence in front of the goals, he tussled with Mikey Casey all day and the pair probably broke even. Has shown an eye for goal this year and added another here. Finished with 1-1 and was fouled for another point on 33 minutes: 7
BILLY RYAN
Ryan grabbed the goal that blew the game wide open, crashing to the net on 39 minutes. Worked hard but struggled to make an impact on proceedings in scoring terms. Won a free for a point on the stroke of half-time: 6
SUBS:
WALTER WALSH: Came on for at half-time and made a huge impact, setting up a goal and scoring a point: 8
JOHN DONNELLY: Introduced on 46 minutes and immediately pointed. Was hit very hard a couple of times and might have had frees: 6
DAVID BLANCHFIELD: Came on after 53 minutes for Browne and scored a rousing late point: 7
RICHIE HOGAN: In on 59 minutes and slotted over a typically classy point from the right wing: 7
ALAN MURPHY: Not on long enough to be rated
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