Graft and craft get Limerick through

This was a gripping game that ebbed and flowed throughout and eventually ended in a merited Limerick success.

But Longford departed the championship with arguably the worst sporting feeling of the lot: reflecting on what might have been.

For Limerick, this win was achieved with a potent mixture of graft and craft. The work ethic was admirable from early on as Longford were never allowed attain their usual running fluency.