DAIRMUID: THE GREATEST WIN

IF GALWAY lift the Liam Maccarthy cup on Sunday evening, it will have taken them nine games to retain their crown – almost twice as many as their 2017 win.

Micheal Donoghue’s side have had to endure an newly extended provincial campaign, before replay wins over Kilkenny just to reach the decider – something Diarmuid O’sullivan (below) believes is unprecedented.

The Paddy Power GAA Ambassador and columnist has three All Ireland medals at home, but believes that a Galway victory would be the best win of all time.

O’sullivan said: “If Galway win this – it will be the greatest All-ireland win of all time.

“Mainly due to the amount of games they’ve played to do it. It would be unprecedented. It would be as big as an achievement within the game of hurling.

“I still believe the ball is in Galway’s court and it’s theirs to lose. Limerick do have a right chance, but it just might be a small bit too early from them in their development.

“Either way it’s another novel pairing in the final, which is only good for the game of hurling.”

O’sullivan also believes there shouldn’t be any burden on a generation of Limerick players that weren’t even born the last time the Treaty county won an All Ireland.

He added: “I believe it would be very unfair to put that pressure on the panel. Obviously, Limerick hurling people will say it’s a long wait since 1973.

“But you must remember that none of these players were even born back then. It’s not their burden to carry or their cross to bear.

O’sullivan believes that Limerick’s full-back line will be put under pressure by Galway’s overpowering attack.

“The key match-up for me is Galway’s fullforward line against Limerick’s fullback line. That Galway unit will bring serious physicality.”