Limerick v Kilkenny: All-Ireland hurling semi-final prediction and tips

Limerick v Kilkenny
Croke Park, 6pm Saturday

Let's rewind to Semple Stadium in the middle of this month for the All-Ireland quarter-final.

With 65 minutes on the clock, Richie Hogan rattled the back of the Limerick net to put The Cats two points to the good going into the final few minutes of the All-Ireland quarter-final. The following few minutes proved to be the defining moments for Limerick hurling.

Tom Morrissey instantly grabbed the next puckout and put it over the bar and Limerick outscored Kilkenny by 0-5 to 0-1 after the goal. For the first time, Limerick were the stronger finishers and they had Kilkenny's number. They furthered that dominance with a nine-point victory in Nowlan Park in this year's league, one that will be in the front of Brian Cody's mind going into this game.

Now they meet having taken differing paths to this point but both will be brimming with confidence following important victories.

Limerick were last seen storming to a 12-point victory at the Gaelic Grounds over Tipperary, their supposed primary challengers in the race for Liam McCarthy. On the day, however, Tipperary struggled to get near Limerick and as the game wore on it was clear that there was only one team going to win.

Although they had been beaten by Tipperary and Cork previously, there was a sense that Limerick were only getting going and that Munster Final performance demonstrated everything that has been good about Limerick in the last year. Their workrate around the field is second to none and their puckout strategy has yet to be curtailed by any team.

It's been said so many times, but Limerick’s strength in depth is their greatest asset and that shone through when Peter Casey stepped up with 1-5 from play when sharpshooter Aaron Gillane was so well held by Brendan Maher. Limerick showed that while you may be able to stop one or two of their key players, you can’t stop them all and that’s when they show their All-Ireland credentials.

Kilkenny have had a hot-and-cold campaign so far but a six-point quarter-final victory over Cork has put them bang in the title race and in with a real shout of dethroning Limerick.

The Cats’ uncharacteristic loss in the Leinster final left many wondering if this team were up to it as they spurned late point opportunities in favour of going for goal. But they quickly dismissed any such thoughts as they blew Cork away in the second half of that quarter-final.

Hogan’s return to full fitness has been a huge boost and it’s important that he, Colin Fennelly and Walter Walsh bring that form through to this encounter with Kilkenny relying far too heavily on TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen so far this year.

The worry for Kilkenny must be their defence though. The Cats have conceded an average of 24 points per game this year, compared to Limerick’s 19.4.

With their scoring averages almost identical - Kilkenny 27.5 and Limerick 27.2 - defence is going to be key on Saturday afternoon and this is likely to be Kilkenny’s ultimate downfall.

Limerick’s defence in the Munster final was incredible as they limited Tipperary, the form side at the time, to just 2-10 from play. If the Limerick rearguard keep their standards up and their forwards exploit Kilkenny’s fragile defence, there looks set to be only one outcome.

Recommendations
Limerick -2
3pts 10-11 Hills, Sky Bet
Limerick to score over 28.5 points
2pts 11-10 BoyleSports

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