LIMERICK began their 2022 season style as they comprehensively dispatched Kerry in the Munster Hurling Cup Final semi-final.
With an experimental side sent out for the Kingdom clash, John Kiely’s Limerick put on a show as they hit Kerry for 4-29.
The margin of victory was 30-points as Limerick steamrolled into the preseason competition final.
Limerick retained just one player from the All-Ireland final with Barry Nash captaining the side from corner back. William O’Donoghue was introduced from the bench while David Reidy and Colin Coughlan were the only other players to have featured in the August clash with Cork.
There was a full debut for Mungret St Pauls man Rory Duff, while teenage sensations Patrick O’Donovan and Adam English were introduced from the bench for their debuts. Elsewhere, Paddy O’Loughlin, Oisin O’Reilly and David McCarthy all returned to the set up.
And while the manner of the victory was facile, Limerick will be pleased with their afternoon’s work.
With a further ten games guaranteed for the Limerick hurlers, we begin our power rankings of the team after their season opener below.
10. Rory Duff (Mungret St Pauls)
As the only man to make his dull debut on Sunday, there would have been pressure on the Mungret St Pauls man. But as he does so well for club, Duff went about his business under the radar and was a constant outlet for his side, doing the unspectacular spectacularly. A couple of blips but a brilliant start to life in the senior ranks.
9. Darren O’Connell (Kildimo Pallaskenry)
Into his third year in the panel, O’Connell has found his chances few and far between so far. There is an array of riches at Kiely’s disposal in the full forward line but with Peter Casey and Barry Murphy out with long term injuries, there is an opportunity for O’Connell to push up the standings. Did his chances no harm on Sunday winning every ball that came his way.
8. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
Captain of the side, the sole survivor from the All-Ireland starting team, Nash led by example. He is getting better at corner back every game and looking at his performance on Sunday, it is hard to believe he only moved back there in 2020.
7. Adam English (Doon)
Anyone that has followed his meteoric rise through the underage ranks won’t be surprised by English’s immediate impact on the senior team. In his senior championship debut for Doon he hit 0-16 while on his first appearance for Limerick at the weekend, he bagged 1-1, his goal a glimpse into his otherworldly talent.
6. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Manister)
A score straight from the throw in and three more throughout the contest is something that we have come to expect from Limerick’s half forward unit who so often set the tone. Cathal O’Neill filled that gap on Sunday and did as expected with the Crecora Manister starlet thought so highly of in the Limerick ranks. Interesting to see him at 10 where he is very similar to a Tom Morrissey kind of player as opposed to the corner where he was positioned when played last year.
5. Brian O’Grady (Kilteely Dromkeen)
The Kilteely Dromkeen native has sometimes struggled to nail down a position with his versatility of the highest order. Made his Limerick debut at corner back, started in the league last year at midfield, was full back for the U20s as well as playing in the forwards for his club. But he had his best performance in a green jersey on Sunday, clipping over three points from play in midfield, surely to the delight of his manager.
4. Richie English (Doon)
His best display for Limerick since his injury in the 2020 season. English was at the pitch of the game from the very off, cutting out Kerry attacks so often throughout the game. His ability to get a hurley in was a key reason for Kerry paltry tally of 0-11. Has work to do to get back into the championship XV but a positive start.
3. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown)
So unlucky to be competing with Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes and Declan Hannon for a starting berth. But such is his talent, it is a very real possibility that Coughlan usurps one of those sooner rather than later. Two points from play only tells a small part of a powerful performance form the wing back. The no.5 jersey is his now, it will be interesting to see when or if it is taken from him.
2. Pat Ryan (Doon)
One of the elder statesman of the team now at only 26, Ryan was at his industrious and clinical best against Kerry. And while the opposition was poor, Ryan did well to take his two goals as well as bag a couple of points from out near the sideline. He will see the injuries to Casey and Murphy as his opportunity to claim a starting jersey for the championship as he made a big impression in the season opener.
1.David Reidy (Dromin Athlacca)
Such was Reidy’s performance at centre-forward, Cian Lynch’s absence was hardly noticed. The Dromin Athlacca man did it all from no.11, hitting over 1-14, assisting countless others and helping out with defence. So often the first man on from the bench in championship games, Reidy has made his intentions of a starting berth clear from the off.
The post Power Rankings | Coughlan, Ryan, English and Reidy on song as Limerick begin 2022 campaign appeared first on Sporting Limerick.
