Defending champions Kilkenny got their National Hurling League bid back on track by overwhelming Limerick in a 2-17 to 0-12 victory at Nowlan Park.
Even without their Ballyhale players, the Cats still eased to an 11-point victory on the back of a superb first half display.
Making use of their wind advantage, Brian Cody’s side took a 2-10 to 0-4 lead into the second half with goals from Martin Comerford (17 minutes) and Derek Lyng (33).
The game was effectively over as Richie Power took his tally to 0-6, while only Andrew O’Shaughnessy 0-5 (5f) and Niall Moran (0-4) emerging with credit from the Shannonsiders’ attack.
Kilkenny had a point to prove this afternoon, following an opening draw with Dublin and defeat to Tipperary last time out.
Emphatically, they hammered home that point, albeit against a Limerick side that was missing some notable front-liners.
Kilkenny clinically exposed the weaknesses in the visitors’ defence, with debutant Wayne McNamara, who is still an Under-21, having a baptism of fire at centre back.
Maurice O’Brien and Peter Lawlor were also badly caught out for a couple of Kilkenny scores and Limerick boss Richie Bennis has plenty to work on before next weekend’s clash with on-form Dublin.
In bitterly cold conditions, Kilkenny moved out to a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, while also hitting four early wides. Eoin McCormack, Power, with a lovely left-sided strike and then a free, and Comerford all slotted over for the home side.
It took Limerick 14 minutes to get on the scoreboard – O’Shaughnessy blazed over a free and it was a further seven minutes before they scored from play when Mike O’Brien pointed on the run.
In between, Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray managed to stop an Aidan Fogarty goal shot but he was powerless to prevent Comerford from rippling the net when a turnover of possession and some quick hand passing played the O’Loughlin Gaels clubman into a scoring position.
He made no mistake and after Moran’s first point, Kilkenny went 1-8 to 0-3 ahead with white flags from Fogarty, Comerford and the lively Power.
Peter Cleere’s cross-field balls were working a treat and the Kilkenny half-forward line were easily on top of their markers.
Moran and Cleere swapped points before McCormack popped over his second of the afternoon and then midfielder Lyng swept through for his goal, after Lawlor had lost control of the sliotar and was punished by Kilkenny’s marauding attack.
Turning around with the wind at their backs, Limerick were expected to mount a concerted comeback in front of a poor crowd of less than 2,000, but Kilkenny continued to have the upper hand in the second half.
Power (free) and centre-fielder Michael Rice fired over points to stretch the hosts’ lead to 14 points at 2-12 to 0-4.
Limerick needed a break and craving a goal, O’Shaughnessy drilled a close range free, low and hard towards PJ Ryan’s net, but the effort was repelled. Barry Foley’s shot, on the rebound, was also stopped by Ryan.
John Dalton and Eoin Larkin were brought into the fray by the Cats as they sought to sew up their first win in Division 1B, and they quickly moved 2-15 to 0-5 ahead when Larkin, McCormack Power (free) tagged on points with O’Shaughnessy hitting his second free in reply.
Limerick managed to save some face by hitting seven of the game’s final nine points. Eddie Brennan and Rice contributed Kilkenny’s closing scores while O’Shaughnessy, with three further frees, Moran (0-2), Kevin Tobin and substitute Mike Fitzgerald sent Limerick’s tally into double figures.
Both sides had late goal chances – substitute James O’Brien had a shot scrambled off the goal line for Limerick, while Power blasted an effort off the upright before Murray regained his poise to beat away the rebound.
Nevertheless, Kilkenny were well out of sight by then and already turning their attention to next weekend’s trip to Antrim. Today’s win has them up to third in the Division 1B table, just a point behind leaders Galway and Tipperary.
