LIMERICK have strengthened their position as one of the greatest teams in hurling history by completing the three-in-a-row.
To win three on the spin is a massive achievement. I played in two finals in three years and it was incredibly tough - but that was in a time when we had significantly less games.
Limerick travelled the shortest route to win this All-Ireland and still had to play seven games, remaining unbeaten throughout.
READ MORE: Player ratings as Limerick hold off Kilkenny for third successive All-Ireland title
They might not have been as dominant as they were in the last two years but I believe they’ll glean extra satisfaction from this All-Ireland as they were put right to the pin of their collar.
They’re right up there with any team I’ve seen the last 40-odd years, including Kilkenny’s four-in-a-row team which they will seek to emulate next year. But there are more competitive games now and they’ve managed to win four titles in five seasons.
It may seem as though they’re coming back to the pack but you have to remember that, for the most part, they were without Cian Lynch, as good a hurler as there is in the country, and another All Star in Peter Casey, while his brother Mike was only just back from a long-term injury and Kyle Hayes had his issues too.
Imagine if they have everyone fit and firing next year? That’s why I don’t see this All-Ireland as some sort of dying kick.
I felt they were more comprehensive winners than the final two-point margin suggested yesterday.
They started well, got a brilliant goal through Gearoid Hegarty and were in total control.
In the first half Limerick won almost 70% of their puckouts that went long and what was central to that was the space they created by how they lined up, with midfielders retreating to their own 45 to open a gap for Nickie Quaid to hit into or else forming a straight line down the middle and breaking left and right.
They got so many scoring opportunities from that and I really enjoyed watching how they put it into action. Kilkenny, meanwhile, had a 40% win rate from their long puckouts - that’s a big difference.
Hegarty and Tom Morrissey were able to get a few yards of separation from their men and with the goalkeeper having the ball in hand up to 40 times in a game, it was exploited. I was extremely surprised that Kilkenny allowed players of that calibre to get free.
Yet again, Hegarty produced the goods on All-Ireland final day. He was only average in the semi-final but he was the best player on the pitch this time.
Hayes was fantastic too - his scores and assists are one thing, but his work rate was savage too.
Limerick’s half-back line was very solid. Diarmaid Byrnes was superb again, Declan Hannon was as assured as ever and Dan Morrissey had his best game all year.
There were occasions where Limerick’s backs seemed loose and under pressure; I remember Walter Walsh being wide open on a puckout and John Kiely losing the plot at no one being on him, but that was very much the exception rather than the rule and they were so sharp on the line, as always, in shoring up on that kind of stuff.
I have to mention Huw Lawlor’s display, however. He was incredible on Aaron Gillane, who had space inside at times but Lawlor swept up so often.
TJ Reid may not have scored from play but he had a fine game, assisting so many scores, winning frees and slotting them.
You’d have to admire Kilkenny’s fight and tenacity to give themselves a chance to win that game right down to the end. But, ultimately, the right team won the All-Ireland.
It’s probably a bit of the goalkeepers’ union coming out in me, but Quaid deserves a special mention as he’s so underrated. His shot-stopping is as good as I’ve seen it and he is the best distributor of the ball out there.
His decision-making is so important to Limerick’s success. He and Graeme Mulcahy are the only Limerick players over 30 and yet he seems to get better with age.
But Byrnes is my Hurler of the Year. Coming into the game, it was between him and Barry Nash for me but Byrnes had the better final of the two.
It’s generally harder for defenders to win these awards but here we have two Limerick backs in the conversation.
Between long range scores and winning high ball, Byrnes was a powerhouse for Limerick all year.
JUBILEE
IT was fantastic to be part of All-Ireland final day again yesterday as the Clare teams of 1995 and ‘97 got their day in the sun.
We met on Saturday night in Castleknock and it was great to see a lot of the lads. There was a really lovely atmosphere.
It’s hard to believe that it’s 25 years on now, but to walk out in Croke Park with them again was special.
Waving to the crowd was never something that I thought about. We’ve all seen players of the past do it over the years and I suppose it’s a sign that I’m getting old that I’ve now had my turn.
We had our time, but it’s nice to get the bit of recognition and the GAA treated us really well, between feeding us and presenting us with a memento of the day.
Funnily enough, we scored 1-13 to win the 1995 final and 0-20 two years later. Kilkenny matched the ‘95 tally in the first half alone yesterday but were still trailing by four points as Limerick had equalled our ‘97 total.
But it’s unfair to compare different eras. Our time was great 25 years ago and it was great 25 years before that again. Sport and life evolves.
It was nice to meet the Wexford 1996 team yesterday too. I had come across a lot of them when I was managing down there. It would have been a different story had our paths crossed back then but we were like ships in the night in that era.
All told, between rugby and golf, it was a big sporting weekend but nothing beats the All-Ireland hurling final. Some of the scores in the game were phenomenal.
Still, there was something surreal about it taking place in mid-July. It just didn’t feel right.
It needs to go back by a month for me. That will still give the clubs plenty of time as the vast majority of counties will still be finished in July.
READ NEXT:
Player ratings as Limerick hold off Kilkenny for third successive All-Ireland title
Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty on verge of signing for League One club
Anthony Stokes arrested after evading police for over a year
Holy Grail evades Rory McIlroy as his Open dream turns into a late nightmare
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
