All-Ireland hurling final: ‘Satisfaction and joy’ for victorious Limerick

As the Limerick players returned to their dressing rooms, joining the Liam McCarthy Cup for the first time since 2023, cheers could be heard from the media interview room.

It’s not just another win, a sixth since 2018, but suffering a semi-final defeat in 2024 ended their ‘drive for five’ hopes, and last year’s humiliating quarter-final exit at the hands of 14-man Dublin, there was a clear sense that this meant a little more.

Success was the only currency they knew and when it was taken away, it left a huge hole and hurt a lot.

It was washed away with a dominant display as they reproduced their calling card: a display of precision, power and absolute ruthless skill to seal the 13th title in county history.

As manager John Kealy emerged from a jubilant dressing room, his overriding emotion was “great satisfaction, a shared sense of joy”.

“I was part of 1994 and 1996 (Limerick lost the final) and injuries never leave you, they scar you. Those days never go away, so sheer joy (today),” he said.

“You want to see the team achieve their potential and I’ve felt over the last two years, we’ve left ourselves behind a bit and haven’t produced the quality in those key moments to get over the line.

“We were up against great opposition today and they will come again, but you look at Clare, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford in the Munster Championship bringing themselves great challenges, so it’s always tough.

“It (the final score) may have shown the gap between the teams but it was one we achieved through sheer application and quality, the intensity we brought to the game and we were relentless. When we had opportunities, we took them.”