Helter skelter hurling.
A fair indication of the physicality of Dublin and Limerick’s League semi-final in Nowlan Park lies in the stats. By half-time, Dublin had made four substitutions, some of them permanent, some of them temporary, three of them injury enforced.
The All-Ireland champions were hitting Mattie Kenny’s men hard and by God, the Dubs were giving as good as they got. Shane Barrett was one of the late inclusions on the Dublin team and the Na Fianna man was in the thick of it in Kilkenny city.
With around 20 minutes gone, Aaron Gillane raced through after being set up by Gearóid Hegarty. Barrett stood in his way, the half back hit him hard, but hit him fair.
Gillane, so often the king of these physical exchanges, needed a breather. A couple of minutes later, Barrett had his hurl wrapped around Hegarty’s neck, giving away the free, but he was making sure the Limerick lads were earning everything.
He was making a statement. There were so many other statements in a half of League hurling that really felt like a championship game.
Eamonn Dillon was as sharp as you’d want him to be in the summer sun, creating the space for himself for two wonderful early scores.
You can't teach spatial awareness. Eamonn Dillon has eyes on the side and on the back of his head 🌪️pic.twitter.com/7F5omOCFoc
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 24, 2019
He’s a real weapon for Dublin and in full flight, he’d have any back line struggling.
And then there’s Danny Sutcliffe – the St Jude’s man is back to his brilliant best in this League and with two points to his name by half-time, he was causing plenty of problems for the Limerick defence.
The second was a real classy score when he caught the ball well above his head before settling to strike despite the jersey being ripped on him by Dan Morrissey.
The jersey ripped off him, Danny Sutcliffe hits the score of the day against Limerick 💣💣pic.twitter.com/QXnJznSto3
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 24, 2019
That’s Championship hurling.
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