MIGHTY Limerick carved-out yet another piece of history at a packed Gaelic Grounds on Sunday courtesy of a thrilling one-point (1-23 to 1-22) defeat of Clare in an absorbing Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final.
It completed a first-ever five-in-a-row for Limerick, a feat only previously achieved by Cork.
“Clare were the one team that beat us in the round robin and we were very determined that wasn’t going to happen today,” said winning manager John Kiely in his post-match RTÉ interview.
“I don’t think anybody likes someone coming into your backyard and taking anything from them. We were always going to have to fight tooth and nail.
“This is a top-quality Clare side, they have shown that in terms of their resilience and determination. Hats off to them, they brought a tremendous effort. It was down to the smallest of margins. We just came off at the right side.”
He continued: “I think we got the balance just right today. It was a really tough game, a fantastic Munster final and a great occasion.
“Clare and ourselves, we’ll meet again, I’ve no doubt. We have special battles every time we meet. This was just another chapter in that story.”
Limerick had trailed by a Mark Rogers goal at half-time, but helped by an overall haul of a match-winning 1-11 from Aaron Gillane the defending champions edged this belter of a contest.
Under Kiely’s watch, Limerick have now never lost a final, winning all 12. An unrivalled record!
Next-up for the holders is an All-Ireland semi-final test against yet unknown opposition at Croke Park on Saturday, July 8, with the other semi-final at the same venue the following afternoon.
Meanwhile in the Tailteann Cup (Senior Football), Limerick will be at home to Laois in the quarter-final at the weekend.
The draw was conducted on national radio by Larry McCarthy on Monday.
