Jolly green giants
Limerick fans celebrate after Cork demolition
LIMERICK hurling fans were pinching themselves after their county’s 16-point demolition of Cork in yesterday’s All-ireland final in front of 40,000 spectators at Croke Park.
The Treatymen were favourites but exceeded expectations with a decisive victory over the Leesiders, giving them their first ever back-to-back titles and their third Liam Maccarthy Cup in four seasons.
Ecstatic Limerick supporters outside Croker after the game were adjusting to the new reality after the 3-32 to 1-22 final.
Liam Shine, 59, from Killeedy, said the champions were one of the greatest teams ever.
He told the Irish Mirror: “It was an awesome display. We’re pinching ourselves, you’d think it’s Barcelona you’re watching.
“You’d expect it from the Corks and the Killkennys and the Tipperarys.
“But at the moment we’re at a level that no one else is at. We’ve raised the bar to new heights.
“They’re the greatest Limerick team I’ve ever seen and probably one of the greatest teams I’ve ever seen, apart from Killkenny in the noughties.”
The tale of two cities played out in front of the largest attendance at any event in Ireland since the since the pandemic began more than 17 months ago.
Mr Shine added: “It made up for last December when we couldn’t even hold the cup.
“There’s been way too many darker days, going back from the 70s, 80s, 90s, so this is special.
“We’re on the crest of the wave at the moment, it won’t last long, but we’ll enjoy it.
“2018 was special, they weren’t expecting to win after 45 years, but this has surpassed it because they were expected to win but not by that level.”
Limerick’s win was the highest ever score by an All-ireland winning team, in the highest scoring final ever when both sides tallies are combined.
While the Rebels didn’t expect that, I thought it was ours to lose, I thought it was going to be maybe five points.”
His pal James “The Sheriff” O’doherty added: “We’ve been supporting Limerick since we were five or six years old.
“And we were leathered by everyone. And now we’re so good it’s actually ridiculous, it’s weird.
“Sure the match was over half-time.”
The win was even more poignant for Cork woman Mary-claire Quill who wore a Limerick jersey in memory of her mother Nora Quill who passed away in recent weeks.
An emotional Mary-claire said: “I was representing for her, she was a proud Limerick lady.
“We said we’d represent, someone in the house had to do it.”
Father and son Niall and Ronan
Hanley, who travelled from Boston, got tickets from the county board there.
Niall said: “We’ve never experienced anything like. In 2018 it was the first time I’ve seen it.
“I was born in 76, they hadn’t won since 73. This year I knew they had it in them.”
While Cork dispatched Clare, Dublin and Kilkenny in the qualifiers, it has now been 16 years since they won an All-ireland hurling final. But
It was an awesome display. You’d think you were watching Barcelona
LIAM SHINE OUTSIDE CROKER YESTERDAY
the resurgent Rebels have enjoyed incredible success at minor and U20 level in recent weeks.
Aidan Berry, 54, from Cork said his county was probably “three or four” years behind Limerick.
He told the Irish Mirror: “A superb performance by the minors last night and the under-20s last week were excellent.
“They are coming but it’s just going to take a bit of time.
“Fair play to Limerick they were outstanding, absolutely awesome again.”
Cork woman Noreen Houlihan, who lives in Limerick, said she’d have a tough day today.
She added: “Two out of three ain’t bad. Limerick were super.
“Up to the water break it was OK, but after that Limerick took over.”
While a bigger and better occasion than last year’s eerie decider held without fans at Croke Park in December, fans at the match as well
REWARD ENOUGH: SEE SPORT
as those watching back home were urged to be mindful of how they celebrate.
The Mayor of Limerick Daniel Butler led the tributes but added an official homecoming was not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions.
He said: “This win fills all Limerick people with a great sense of pride.
“The players are a credit to their families, friends, communities and to the green jersey of Limerick.”