Here's people's reactions - and alternative suggestions - after a gripping free-taking competition
Limerick have won the first-ever televised free-taking competition, and it had people glued to their TVs for the rescheduled Bank Holiday clash, writes .
Colin Ryan was the Limerick hero, converting his second 65-metre free of the shoot-out to make it 7-6 after Clare's Niall Deasy missed.
Limerick have beaten Clare in the Allianz hurling League, dramatic finish Limerick winning by frees! pic.twitter.com/ixIdZW1cTN
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 19, 2018
That finally brought an end to the gripping match five minutes short of three hours – one which is being labelled the longest inter-county hurling game of all time.
As the marathon match headed towards 7pm, some people were worried their whole day could be consumed in a never-ending match.
For feck sake, lads... have you no homes to go to??!! I have a dinner to cook!! This game started more than two and a half hours ago!! Massive credit to #Limerick & #Clare hurlers for serving up a thrilling Marathon!#AllianzLeague pic.twitter.com/OVTonOtFHq
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) March 19, 2018
Have to drive back to Limerick from Claremorris this evening if I leave now they’ll probably still be at it when I arrive 😂 #LimerickVClare #GAABEO #allianzleague
— Shelley Ní Bhriain (@shellsob) March 19, 2018
working in the morning lads. Any chance ye finish it soon.😂😂😂Great game #GAABEO #LimerickVClare #AllianzLeague
— patrick manahan (@patrickmanahan) March 19, 2018
GAA confirm semi finals to be pushed back as @LimerickCLG and @GaaClare will still be playing each other by then #GAA
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) March 19, 2018
The year is 2028. The 2018 Allianz Hurling League champion has yet to be crowned.
— Eoin Sheahan (@EoinSheahan) March 19, 2018
Some players, past and present, suggested some tweaks to the free-taking format.
Should be like soccer/rugby where new frees takers come in from the first 5
— Jamie Coughlan (@coughlan_jamie) March 19, 2018
Others proposed a 'golden point' to decide a winner, or a good, old-fashioned penalty shootout.
Play next point wins. #AllianzLeague
— Tony Maher (@Piomaher1979) March 19, 2018
Surely a penalty shootout would determine a winner quicker than a free taking shootout? Also, no player should have to shoot twice - should go through all players first. #GAA #GAABeo
— Brian Cronin (@Barnflake) March 19, 2018
Although there were some whackier alternatives put forward too.
Limerick v Clare could surely be settled by a lip sync battle no? #Clare #limerick #AllianzLeague #GAA
— Simon Murdoch 📻📱🎧 (@Simon_Murdoch) March 19, 2018
Four-time All-Ireland final referee Brian Gavin was just glad for the man in black.
Ah the shoot out at least no one can blame the Ref now😂
— Brian Gavin (@referee34) March 19, 2018
It was an unusual and entertaining end, but neither manager was a fan of it all.
Agallamh le bainisteoir @LimerickCLG John Kiely & comhbhainisteoir @GaaClare Donal Moloney.#GAABEO #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/YSV2Spyb9W
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 19, 2018
Wonderful display of sheer guts, commitment & skill by both Limerick & Clare Hurlers today. Congratulations Limerick on getting to Semi Final. But in my humble opinion there has to be a better way to settle things than taking 65’s ! It didn’t do it for me.@GaaClare @LimerickCLG
— Marty Morrissey (@MartyMofficial) March 19, 2018
And spare a thought for Peter Duggan, who scored a mammoth 19 points and then converted two frees only to end up on the losing side.
Peter Duggan with 21 points, holy .... Big unit
— . (@altsbyaddidas) March 19, 2018
It may have been a victory for Limerick, but Cork's Jamie Coughlan knew who the real winner was.
The real winner here is the game of hurling and tg4 for showing it. Some game #AllianzLeague #GAABEO
— Jamie Coughlan (@coughlan_jamie) March 19, 2018
Fair play to @GAA_BEO they cudn’t show 3 games as planned yesterday. So today they showed one game that went on as long as 3! #gaa #GAABEO
— Paul Jenkins (@Paul_Jenkins1) March 19, 2018
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