Kilkenny edge airtight battle with Limerick to land All-Ireland U20 hurling crown
May 22, 2022
Kilkenny's Ian Byrne celebrates with the trophy ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Kilkenny are All-Ireland U20 hurling champions after edging out Limerick in an airtight decider this afternoon in Thurles.
It finished 0-19 to 0-18 at Semple Stadium, where the teams had been level 14 times over the hour and Billy Drennan’s 0-9 contribution proved key to the Cats’ victory.
Drennan helped the Leinster champions to hold a 0-10 to 0-9 lead at half-time and the second-half would mirror the first with neither team willing to give an inch.
Top-scorer Aidan O’Connor (0-10) helped bring the Treaty County level and the scoreboard read 0-14 apiece heading into the final quarter.
After that Kilkenny nearly hit the net through two quick shots from Ian Byrne but goalkeeper Conor Hanley-Clarke denied him with two fine saves.
In the end, three points from Drennan in that closing quarter were what got Derek Lyng’s lads over the line as Colin Coughlan’s late chance of an equaliser at the other end sailed wide of the posts.
The success marks a first All-Ireland triumph for Kilkenny in the U21/U20 grade since 2008.
TweetWatch Full-Time Highlights as Kilkenny beat Limerick in the All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Final here on #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/gXYK9fN27m
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 22, 2022
