DEREK LYNG hailed Kilkenny keeping all their players on the field to pick up an important victory over Limerick.
The success eased the Cats’ relegation fears and saw defending NHL and All-Ireland champions Clare and Wexford both suffer the drop from Division 1A.
The result also sees Tipperary — who defeated Kilkenny last weekend, in a defeat that saw them lost three players to red cards — progress to the NHL final
And Cats chief Lyng admitted: “It was important to everybody involved that we put in a performance today.
“We were disappointed in how we showed up last week, but it is a positive way to end the league.”
In a game that put the Treaty out of the league running, the eventual winners dominated the opening half, and that was where the game was arguably won.
Despite a second-half Limerick revival, the Cats were never trouble after enjoying an 11-point interval lead.
Discussing his side’s play, Lyng said: “There was good variety but overall our attitude and work rate was excellent. We maintained that for most of the game — that was the most pleasing thing.”
After losing both their previous home games to Tipp and Galway, there was the unthinkable prospect of Kilkenny losing all three league clashes at Nowlan Park. But a response was sought and delivered by the Leinster champions.
Lyng added: “I had to look at myself as much as the players.
“It is a collective, and we were all very disappointed. That effort and character is fine today, but we need to drive on in the next four or five weeks and ensure we are ready for April 19.”
The Cats host Galway in their Leinster SHC opener next month and saw the outstanding Martin Keoghan chip in with seven points from play on Saturday.
TJ Reid continued his road to full fitness with 0-10, including two from play.
There was early goal chances as Billy Reid was denied by a flying Shane Dowling save before Reid’s effort was repelled by the 2018 All-Ireland winner.
Limerick were off-colour in the first half. Early points from Ethan Hurley and Shane O’Brien proved a false dawn.
Missing their attacking focal point of Aaron Gillane, they struggled to retain the ball and work shooting opportunities.
Kerry native Fionán Mackessy and the busy Cian Kenny were also on target. Billy Ryan and Keoghan replied to scores from Colin Coughlan and David Reidy — with Limerick’s short passing starting to work. Despite a mini Treaty revival at the start of the second half, the gap of nine points looked insurmountable.
However, John Kiely’s men went on a run to cut the gap back to just four entering the final ten minutes.
Aidan O’Connor, Paddy O’Donovan and Adam English all pointed as captain Cian Lynch’s influence became greater.
But after Reidy hit over, there were no more scores for the Treaty. Instead, the final minutes belonged to Kilkenny.
Keoghan slotted two more, as did Reid and their side sprinted for the line.
Kiely’s men face Wexford in their final NHL encounter and he said: “Our eyes will turn to the Championship, with one more game to come. We only had 24 players that we could call upon today.”
The boss said that Darragh O’Donovan and Declan Hannon are set to return to full training, with Gearóid Hegarty and Barry Murphy unavailable yesterday.
KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh 0-1; S Murphy, R Reid, P Deegan 0-1; C Kenny 0-2, J Molloy 0-1; J Donnelly 0-2, B Ryan 0-2, F Mackessy 0-3; 1f; L Hogan, TJ Reid 0-10, 8f, M Keoghan 0-7 Subs: K Doyle for Molloy 47-49 mins (blood); K Doyle for Kenny 57 (inj); H Shine for Hogan 59; E Lyng for Mackessy 67; P McDonald for Molloy 73, G Dunne for Reid 73.
LIMERICK: S Dowling; S Finn, N Casey, B Nash 0-1; C Coughlan 0-2, W O’Donoghue, E Hurley 0-1; A English 0-1, C Lynch; T Morrissey 0-2, D Reidy 0-8, 7f, C O’Neill; S O’Brien 0-1, S Flanagan, A O’Connor 0-2. Subs: P O’Donovan 0-1 for O’Neill 33 mins (inj); D Ó Dálaigh 0-1 for Flanagan 53; M Houlihan for English, E Stokes for Morrissey, O O’Farrell for O’Brien 70.
REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork).
