Brilliant Kilkenny slay champions Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016

Brilliant Kilkenny beat champions Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016.

Kilkenny beat All-Ireland champions Limerick 2-17 in the Liam MacCarthy Cup semi-final at Croke Park. Brian Cody's record in All Ireland semi finals is now 16 wins from 19 attempts. Limerick started poorly and couldn't cope with the Cats' ferocious tackling and work-rate. Aaron Gillane impressed for the visitors with 1-9 and Colin Fennelly with one-3. The Treaty narrowly defeated Kilkenny in last year’s quarter-finals in Thurles. The Cats looked the hungrier team throughout the contest.

TJ Reid scored 8 points for Kilkenny. Colin Fennelly scored 1-3, Adrian Mullen 0-4, Walter Walsh 0.2, Padraig Walsh, John Donnelly, Richie Hogan and James Maher scored 0 -1 each.

Aaron Gillane scored 1-9 for Limerick. Shane Dowling scored one-0. Graeme Mulcahy scored 0-2. Tom Morrissey, Peter Casey, Barry Nash and David Reidy each scored a single point.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. Paul Murphy, Huw Lawlor, Joey Holden and Joey Hernadez are the players to watch.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. Conor Fogarty, Pádraig Walsh, Tullaroan and Paddy Deegan are the other players.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. Conor Browne (James Stephens) and Richie Leahy (Rower Inistoge) were the players on the team.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. John Donnelly, TJ Reid, Walter Walsh and Walter Walser are the players to watch.

Cillian Buckley, Bill Sheehan, Billy Ryan, Liam Blanchfield, Conor Delaney, James Maher and James Fogarty are all on the scoresheet.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. Nickie Quaid (Effin) was the star player.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. Sean Finn (Bruff), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Richie English (Doon) and Richie O'Donoghue (O'Donnell) are the players to watch.

Kilkenny beat Limerick to book first All-Ireland final since 2016. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) and William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh) are the other players on the team.

21. Barry Nash (Saor Theas) for Hannon (ht), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) and Darragh O’Donovan (Dun Bleisce) are substitutes.