Kilkenny are U20 All-Ireland champions after a tight 0-19 to 0-18 triumph over Limerick in the last.

The sides went point-for-point all through the whole challenge, however Billy Drennan’s commitment of 0-8 (five from play) helped the Cats over the line.

In troublesome circumstances in Thurles, the different sides exchanged scores during the primary half. Senior specialist Adam English sent the Treaty into the lead promptly after toss in, yet Kilkenny stayed in contact.

Two all around taken Patrick O’Donovan focuses and three Aidan O’Connor liberates kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Munster champions.

Yet, the Cats matched their rivals, with Denis Walsh and Timmy Clifford driving their scoring front and center.

Kilkenny’s Paddy Langton could count himself fortunate after he was granted a point, notwithstanding Limerick goalkeeper Conor Hanley Clarke seeming to stop the sliotar before it went over the bar.

What’s more, it was the Leinster victors who drove at the break, after a long-range liberated from Aidan Tallis on the stroke of half-time gave Derek Lyng’s side a slim 0-10 to 0-9 benefit.

Limerick hoped to come raging back, with Colin Coughlan evening out the challenge soon after the restart.

The Treaty had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the challenge, as he made two great objective line saves.

Billy Drennan and Aidan O’Connor kept on exchanging scores, as neither one of the sides could take a noteworthy lead for significant stretches.

The groups were level for a fourteenth time frame at 0-15 each, before the Cats in the end edged ahead.

Drennan assisted the Nore-siders into a two-point with padding, and a further score from Timmy Clifford saw them lead 0-19 to 0-18.

Limerick had a late opportunity, yet Colin Coughlan shot wide with the last puck of the game, and Kilkenny waited and finished a 14-year sit tight for a title at the grade.

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis (0-1, 0-1f); Niall Rowe, Sean Purcell, Padraig Lennon; Joe Fitzpatrick, Padraic Moylan, Paddy Langton (0-1); Killian Doyle, Andy Hickey (0-1); Denis Walsh (0-2), Timmy Clifford (0-3), Peter McDonald; Billy Drennan (0-8, 0-2f, 0-1 ’65), Gearoid Dunne (0-1), Ian Byrne (0-2).

Subs: James Walsh for Andy Hickey (43), Eoghan O’Brien for Joe Fitzpatrick (50), Jack Doyle for Gearoid Dunne (58).

Limerick: Conor Hanley Clarke; Chris Thomas, Fergal O’Connor, Evan O’Leary; Cian Scully, Ethan Hurley, Colin Coughlan (0-1); Jimmy Quilty, John Kirby; Adam English (0-2), Aidan O’Connor (0-10, 0-7f), Eddie Stokes (0-1); Shane O’Brien (0-1), Patrick Kirby (0-1), Patrick O’Donovan (0-2).

Subs: Donnacha Ó Dálaigh for Patrick O’Donovan (50), Patrick Reale for Evan O’Leary (55), Joe Sweeney for Cian Scully (58).