Their meetings in recent seasons have been nothing short of epic so the scene looks set for another classic when Limerick and Kilkenny clash in Sunday’s Division 1 HL final.
The other business has already been taken care of with Offaly (2A), Meath (2B), Roscommon (3A and Cavan (3B) earning promotion last weekend and all that’s left is the main course in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (2.0).
Much like the great Kilkenny side under Brian Cody or Jim Gavin’s Dublin footballers, League is always taken seriously in Limerick and John Kiely’s men have the chance to land their third League title in five seasons having already prevailed in 2019 and ’20.
The Treaty are also chasing their 14th Division 1 title in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final, which Limerick won narrowly (1-31 to 2-26), while the Cats are eyeing a 20th title.
It would also be a first senior title for Kilkenny boss Derek Lyng, who filled Cody’s sizeable boots this season, and a fascinating final is in store given that this Limerick side has never lost a senior final of any description under Kiely.
HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL:
LIMERICK
Cork 2-17 Limerick 0-22
Limerick 1-27 Clare 2-18
Limerick 0-24.Galway 0-19
Limerick 1-27 Westmeath 1-15
Limerick 2-20 Wexford 0-15
Limerick 1-28 Tipperary 0-25 (semi-final)
Played 6, Win 5, Lost 1
Average For: 1-25 Average Against: 1-18
TOP SCORERS
Tom Morrissey……………..0-24 (8f)
Micheál Houlihan ………..0-17 (12f)
Aaron Gillane……………….1-13 (11f)
Donnacha Ó Dálaigh…….1-10
Diarmaid Byrnes……………0-12 (8f, 0-1 ‘65’)
KILKENNY
Kilkenny 1-18 Antrim 0-15
Tipperary 2-24 Kilkenny 1-21
Kilkenny 0-34 Laois 1-18
Kilkenny 2-25 Dublin 1-17
Kilkenny 0-18 Waterford 0-16
Kilkenny 2-22 Cork 0-22 (semi-final)
Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1.
Average For: 1-23 Average Against: 1-18
TOP SCORERS
Billy Drennan………….2-65 (47f, 1-0 pen, 0-5 ‘65s’)
Martin Keoghan……..2-10
Eoin Cody………………..2-7 (2f)
John Donnelly………….0-12
Paddy Deegan…………0-6
Billy Ryan………………..0-6
PREVIOUS KILKENNY-LIMERICK LEAGUE FINALS
2006: Kilkenny 3-11 Limerick 0-14
1983: Kilkenny 2-14 Limerick 2-12
1947: Limerick 3-8 Kilkenny 1-7 (replay)
1947: Limerick 4-5 Kilkenny 2-11
1933: Kilkenny 3-8 Limerick 1-3
