The impressive 2018 winners will face the top-three teams in the all-time roll of honour.

Red and black were the colours on the trophy yesterday as Ballygunner made it a first Munster club senior hurling title since 2001, an emotional victory for the Waterford men. They had lost to yesterday’s opponents, Na Piarsaigh of Limerick, twice at this stage in the previous three years, and their determination to break that series of defeats was clear in Semple Stadium.

Ballygunner were crowned Munster hurling club champions in Semple Stadium, the Waterford side collecting a historic first title since 2001.

Another statement of intent from Na Piarsaigh but three injuries will give them food for thought ahead of a second successive Munster final on November 18.

Extending their unbeaten provincial run to 12 games, Na Piarsaigh cruised into a second successive Munster final with an emphatic win over Clonoulty-Rossmore but lost key men Shane Dowling and Ronan Lynch to injuries.

Na Piarsaigh hurler Ronan Lynch is a notable omission from Limerick’s championship panel.

A sixth Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup title for University of Limerick at Mallow today following victory over first-time finalists Dublin City University.

When John Kiely announced his extended panel for the 2018 campaign, 10 of the 38 players listed were from the Na Piarsaigh club.

Take a left inside the main entrance doors of Midleton CBS and you’ll quickly stumble upon a full board of Harty Cup player profiles.

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 3-15 Slaughtneil (Derry) 3-8: At half-time on Saturday afternoon, Shane O’Neill felt a familiar hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Na Piarsaigh remain on track for two AIB All-Ireland club SHC title successes in three seasons following a thrilling semi-final comeback win over brave Slaughtneil at Parnell Park.

Fitzgibbon Cup Group B: University of Limerick 3-29 - Dublin Institute of Technology 4-17: It proved all too easy for the hurlers of University Limerick in this Fitzgibbon Cup clash.

Limerick’s John Kiely and Cork’s Ronan McCarthy are among those inter-county managers who may not be able to field players from their senior county championship-winning clubs in this year’s Allianz Leagues.

It was only three years ago that then Limerick chairman Oliver Mann was telling club delegates that promotion from Division 1B was a priority for their senior hurlers.

There’s a little history between Ballygunner and Na Piarsaigh. Given the pool of clubs jostling to get out of the Munster club SHC, that’s hardly surprising, but Paul Flynn is worried that the backstory may be more beneficial to the Limerick champions than to his club mates in black and red.

This was a convincing return to fortunes for Na Piarsaigh whose fourth senior county title never really looked in doubt in the Gaelic Grounds.

Hurling Development Committee (HDC) chairman Paudie O’Neill feels attitudes from both managers and officials towards the Allianz Hurling League will change in the wake of Saturday’s historic All-Ireland SHC vote.

KILKENNY 0-11 - LIMERICK 0-17: Familiar territory, this, for Limerick. And a familiar question is again posed: Can this latest U21 success pave the way to senior hurling glory?

A determined performance from Limerick saw them crowned All-Ireland U21 hurling champions for the second time in three years.

Limerick 0-16 Cork 1-11: A bright note on an otherwise dank summer for Limerick.

Say what you want about the quality of fare served up this summer, but where post-match interviews are concerned, GAA followers have been spoilt.

Limerick 1-28 Clare 1-15 

With Kilkenny not exactly lighting up Cusack Park on Wednesday evening, it was left to Limerick to fire the first warning signal in the race for All-Ireland U21 glory.

Limerick fired an early warning shot that they are one of the leading contenders for All-Ireland U21 glory with this comprehensive 12-point Munster quarter-final dismissal of Tipperary.

This Limerick U21 team carries shades of last year’s Waterford class.

University of Limerick 2-21, NUI Galway 2-12: The hurlers of UL booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup with this second comprehensive victory on home turf.

Munster Hurling League - Limerick 4-28 Kerry 0-16: Former underage star Peter Casey marked his Limerick senior debut with a fine display as the Shannonsiders spanked Kerry by 24 points at the Gaelic Grounds.

If they’re handled properly and don’t burn out in their teens, here’s ten talents who’ll make a name for themselves in 2017...

Had Pat Donnelly not been on the bench the last time a Limerick minor hurler lifted the Irish Press Cup, he probably wouldn’t be standing on the sideline tomorrow.

The dream week for Tipperary hurling, anything but for neighbours Limerick.