The Kilkenny U20s defy the odds to claim silverware in Semple Stadium on a scoreline of 0-19 0-18.
Work ethic was the difference as Kilkenny claimed a one-point victory over Munster rivals Limerick.
The black and amber made the better start, leading by 2 points to one after 5 minutes.
Timmy Clifford was the key man up front for Kilkenny in the first half, running at defense and making the most of every ball that was fed to him.
Both sides played an inspiring brand of hurling for the first 15 minutes, but things slowed down drastically as the game entered the 2nd quarter.
Limerick were favorites going into this game and they didn’t carry that tag particularly well, looking nervous at times and making silly mistakes.
In contrast, Kilkenny fought for everything and used the ball a lot better than the treaty.
Paddy Langton raised a green flag despite the Limerick goal keeper getting his hurl to it.
The sides faced awful conditions in the last 10 minutes but prevailed and kept the show on the road.
At the halftime whistle, Kilkenny led 10 points to 9.
2nd half
If Timmy Clifford was the man in the first half, the second half was all about Galmoy man Billy Drennen.
The corner-forward put in a man-of-the-match performance converting 4 points from both placed balls and from play.
Limerick continued to make basic mistakes in the 2nd half and Kilkenny took full advantage of that.
Despite Kilkenny showing more prowess physically, Limerick hung on and there was never any more than 2 points separating the teams.
Aidan O’Connor brought it back to 15 points apiece with 12 left on the clock.
It was nail biting stuff right until the very end with the cats leading by only a single point with 30 seconds remaining.
Limerick were given a life line right at the end when they were awarded a line ball but they failed to convert it.
Kilkenny got there just reward today in Semple Stadium after going on a long and difficult journey with Derek Lyng.
The final score in Thurles was Kilkenny 0-19, Limerick 0-18
