LIMERICK PLAYER RATINGS
NICKIE QUAID 7
Puck-outs top class. One drilled restart to Cathal O’Neill for an immediate bounce back score just one example. No shot in anger on his goal until the late penalty.
SEÁN FINN 7
A lesson in quiet leadership at the back. No frills, no fuss.
MIKE CASEY 5
Was on the back foot from the moment he conceded the first free on Rabbitte. Beaten for the first three balls and picked up a yellow for persistent fouling.
(l-r) Limerick’s Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Peter Casey and Gearóid Hegarty celebrate yesterday
BARRY NASH 8
Gave his team renewed confidence when he beat Rabbitte to the first ball after switching over in the first half. So dynamic on the front foot.
DIARMAID BYRNES 8
Part of a rock solid half-back line. Arrowed three deadballs wonderfully under the breeze in first half and produced a trademark score from under the Hogan.
WILL O’DONOGHUE 8
Locked down the central channel all day. Even got up to get a block and turnover on his opposite number six Daithí Burke.
KYLE HAYES 8
Grew in stature as the game wore on. Plucking Darach Fahy’s puckout from the sky and galloping forward to score set the tone for second half.
ADAM ENGLISH 8
A dynamic presence in the middle third. Justified his inclusion ahead of Darragh O’Donovan.
CIAN LYNCH 9
Proved once again that he is a generational talent. Has the quick hands of a magician, the touch of an artist and then the steel to go with it all.
GEARÓID HEGARTY 9
A defiant display from another of Limerick’s Hurler of the Year contenders. A player for the big day, only denied two goals by two quality saves.
AIDAN O’CONNOR 7
Stuck his frees and sniped around the edges to good effect.
CATHAL O’NEILL 8
Plunged the knife into Galway by burying his goal. Free-running and so hard to pin down, has become one of the team’s leaders.
AARON GILLANE 8
Showed once again what a big game player he is. Was back slinging shots over the bar over his shoulder. Four from play and the go-to man inside.
The final was a tactical masterclass by Limerick manager John Kiely and his fellow coaches
SHANE O’BRIEN 6
Worked so hard to put the big squeeze on Galway as they worked the ball out but got little change out of Daithí Burke.
PETER CASEY 8
So clever in finding pockets of space when Limerick turned the ball over. Took that high hit from Ronan Glennon but came back on and also finished with four from play.
SUBSTITUTES 6
The game was done and Galway down to 14 by the time Limerick ran in four of their six substitutes. David Reidy rounded off the day’s scoring with his team’s last score in injury time.
MANAGER 9
A tactical masterclass from John Kiely and his management team. Did what Cork and Dublin couldn’t do in stopping Galway’s running game at source. Ferocious but so disciplined in the tackle to gorge on turnover ball.
