LIVELimerick v Kilkenny liveblog - All-Ireland final play by play
Limerick manager John Kiely lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup
Richie Hogan’s leveller sparked Limerick into scoring the next five points. Kilkenny did respond with three of their own but that purple patch of the champions was too much to claw back.
A day wrapped in history. A first three-in-a-row for Limerick, Declan Hannon becoming the most decorated hurling captain of all time. Limerick extending their unbeaten championship run to 16 games. Putting a round-robin Munster-All-Ireland combination back-to-back with a knock-out Munster-All-Ireland.
A crowning achievement for Limerick given it was that semi-final defeat to Kilkenny three years ago that clicked into gear this era of domination. They just weren’t going to fall to the Cats again.
Defeat is always going to sting at this ultimate stage and this was a third All-Ireland final loss for Brian Cody but he can take more encouragement from this one than the 2016 and ‘19 reverses against Tipperary.
Players understandably flagged in the third quarter and both managements were quick enough to replace them. In brutally stifling conditions, that no player went off seriously injured was remarkable.
Keeping Aaron Gillane at the edge of the square meant Huw Lawlor was given his detail and what a performance he gave. Seamus Flanagan roamed more as a result but quietened in the second half after a bright opening.
Scoring 2-2 in last year’s All-Ireland final, Gearóid Hegarty topped it with 1-5 here and fittingly Limerick’s last score. Diarmaid Byrnes, leading candidate for hurler of the year you would now imagine, wasn’t too far behind. Neither was the evergreen TJ Reid.
This game could hardly have gone better for the Cork referee Colm Lyons. There had been doubts about him coming into it but he did well in the searing heat.
Sean Finn laughs as the Cranberries goes up around Croke Park once again. Aaron Gillane admits he was ‘in awe’ of Gearóid Hegarty’s goal and says Limerick needed it.
"It is unbelievable, I can’t really describe it. It has been a rollercoaster. This year we had a mediocre start of the year with the league but through every match there was improvement. This was the goal at the start of the year. And we finally got there now."
"Kilkenny won't take any satisfaction out of saying how well they played. They had chances."
“We have two or three years’ celebrating to catch up,” says Declan Hannon as he concludes his speech.
The needle drops on ‘Glory Days’.
"Today was the most scores ever in an All Ireland senior hurling final (60). It passes the 58 scores from last year."
Declan Hannon has become the first captain to receive the Liam MacCarthy Cup four times. He lifts it with the injured Cian Lynch.
"That was some battle. We have so much respect for those Kilkenny players. They have some of the best players to ever play the game and we knew it was going to be as hard as it was but I’m just absolutely delighted. What a day.
You have to give great credit to both teams. Kilkenny refused to roll over.
Gavan Reilly on Twitter: "2-26 (32) is the highest score ever recorded by a defeated All-Ireland finalist. #gaa"
Gearóid Hegarty’s boomer from deep in his own half.
Cian Lynch limps on to congratulate his teammates.
It's all over and Limerick have won the three in a row after a marvellous final. Their four All-Ireland in five years. ‘Good man’ says Brian Cody as he shakes John Kiely’s hand. The Limerick manager is clearly – and understandably – hugely emotional.
Kyle Hayes was instructed to sit in front of his own square to protect the house down the last few minutes. But Kilkenny tack on a couple of quickfire points with David Blanchfield bringing them to within two points with a minute left.
Nicky English: “They just don’t go away, Kilkenny. This is hurling at its best. Score after score, after score. Tension right up to the end”
Hegarty punches the air as he bangs over a huge point. He has 1-5 for his afternoon’s work and Limerick are five points ahead.
Four minutes injury time, with Limerick four points up. Limerick win a massive free out as the defence stand firm. As the clock ticks into the red they celebrate the decision accordingly.
Are Limerick pulling away now? Kyle Hayes is pulled down and as he gathers a gallop; Aaron Gillane is coolness personified and the Treaty are four ahead
: This time Hawkeye says Ta to Cathal O'Neill. Limerick two up. Conor Boylan from range makes it three. Limerick's bench press.
Hawkeye’s called for again and a David Reidy effort is ruled out.
Richie Hogan is in.
Tom Morrissey splits the posts again for Limerick but after Paddy Deegan is adjudged to have been fouled as he charged goalwards, Reid scores his ninth point.
TJ Reid drops over a long-range free from inside his own 45. First score in 10 mins for the Cats, we’re told.
TJ Reid drops over a long-range free from inside his own 45. First score in 10 mins for the Cats, we’re told.
Tom Morrissey is fed by Hegarty and he raises a white flag.
David Blanchfield is introduced for the Cats. David Reidy is on for Limerick in place of Darragh O’Donovan.
This is frantic stuff now. Diarmuid Byrnes takes his time but sends over a free to make it’s a two-point lead for the Treaty. Mulcahy is replaced by Peter Casey.
GOAL; Martin Keoghan this time after marvellous work from TJ Reid. John Donnelly adds a point and we're level. Game on big time. The All-Ireland champions' cage has been rattled, says Marty.
Anthony Nash on Sky: “The only fear for Kilkenny is the further they push up the field is that is creating space for Gillane and Flanagan”
7 wides each after 45 minutes of play in Croke Park
Nicky: “It is just a tour de force here from Gearoid Hegarty today. I don’t know how you would go about marking him” Aaron Gillane converts a free
Limerick need to stop Darragh O’Donovan being isolated in a mismatch with Walter Walsh - and quick.
Brynes again for Limerick. Gearoid Hegarty bounces forward again but his progress is halted as he’s about to pull the trigger. Instead Walter Walsh lofts over a massive point to make it a one-score game.
Hegarty hasn't gone away. He and Adrian Mullen exchange points.
GOAL: Billy Ryan drills low past Nickie Quaid just as you began to fear for the KK challenge.
Kyle Hayes gets first point of the second half, his third in all. Limerick five ahead again. Kkilenny forwards must start to contribute more, says Duignan. Gillane adds another for Limerick. Ominous for KK.
Limerick backs from play in first half: 3 points.
Kilkenny backs from play in first half: 4 points.
Kilkenny forwards from play in first half: 5 points.
Limerick forwards from play in first half: 1-10.
Too many unforced errors from Kilkenny.
The quality of shot-taking here surely can’t continue in these conditions. You would imagine both managers will be looking to their benches earlier than usual and for the four points the Kilkenny half-back line have scored they have conceded 1-6. A change or two might be expected there.
Limerick have had a couple of shaky moments in their full-back line but TJ Reid appears to be the only player capable of breaking their resolve right now.
G. Hegarty (1-3); A. Gillane (0-4, 2 frees); D. Byrnes (0-3, 2 frees); K. Hayes, S. Flanagan (0-2 each); T. Morrissey, D. Hannon, D. Morrissey (0-1 each).
T.J Reid (0-7, frees); P. Deegan, P. Walsh (0-2 each); E. Cody, M. Keoghan, R. Reid, M. Carey, A. Mullen (0-1 each). - John F
: The last action of the half is TJ Reid darting another free over the bar. We need to take on some fluids here, never mind the players.
Seamas Flanagan makes no mistake this time from a similar piece of Croke Park real estate and in the last moments of the half, Limerick are five ahead.
Dan Morrissey opens his account. Both sets of half-backs have now all pointed from play.
: Limerick’s 1-17 from eight different sources
TJ Reid keeps the scoreboard ticking over for Brian Cody’s side with another free.
Seamas Flanagan with an ambitious effort that goes wide, is followed by Reid missing one too. The players will welcome the break.
: TJ Reid hits a free, moments after his path to the goal was illegally hampered by Barry Nash. Kyle Hayes then plucks a Quaid puck out, turns and points. Padraig Walsh with a ‘handy score’ seconds later. Five points in it.
Excellent team score from the champions as Declan Hannon ultimately steps out of the defensive ranks and points from distance.
Great defending from Michael Carey as he forces Hegarty’s gallop off centre and his shot goes wide.
Aaron Gillane with a free, his fourth point of the game. Paddy Deegan replies for Kilkenny.
TJ Reid arrows over a free with his usual efficiency and it’s a five-point game
Hegarty lofts a worldy from the sideline which Hawkeye adjudicates good. Anyone in St Andrews today would be proud of that draw, says Michael Duignan. "Unbelievable," counters Nicky on Sky, looking around for Jeff.
Mike Casey with a big catch and is hurt in the tackle, causing some delay. Diarmuid Byrnes makes no mistake from the subsequent set piece.
A look back at the early stunner from Limerick’s Gearóid Hegarty
Anthony Nash on Sky Sports: “Kilkenny are struggling with short puckouts. Martin Comeford has gone down to Eoin Murphy with the message to go more direct.”
Ballyhale’s Adrian Mullin has loads to do but lofts a point over to male it 1-10 to 0-9
Michael Carey points to show the Kilkenny half back line are no slouches too while Arron Gillane notches another and Seamas Flanagan introduces himself. That makes it 3 points from the Kilkenny half-back line. 1-4 from the Limerick half-forward line. Kilkenny’s half-back line have scored the same from play - 0-3 - as the entire Kilkenny front eight have from play.
19 mins: Hegarty adds another brilliant point. Nicky English: “Hegarty is absolutely on fire. I wondered about his form today but he is really on top form today”
Conor Fogarty is sent on for Conor Browne, who’s being looked at by Kilkenny staff. Richie Reid points for the Cats and it’s a one-score game all of a sudden.
Kyle Hayes is onto his third helmet of the afternoon and we’re 15 minutes in. Hegarty sends over a lovely point after great work from William O’Donoghue.
Martin Keoghan points to keep the Cats in touch but Tom Morrissey replies quickly to keep it a four-point gap.
Kyle Hayes goes in search of a new helmet moments after he opens his account and then Diarmuid Byrnes adds another; he caught a high ball, landed and let fly in familiar fashion. Paddy Deegan gets one back for the Noresiders.
Aaron Gillane converts a free to stretch Limerick’s lead to four. Declan Hannon tests Eoin Murphy with a long ball down under the crossbar but Kilkenny deal with it and ultimately win a free, which TJ Reid converts
Kilkenny are on the board after seven minutes thanks to, predictably, a TJ Reid free. Eoin Cody follows that up with a score of his own. Lim 1-2 KK 0-2
Eoin Murphy hits the Cats’ second wide of the game so far with a free and seconds later Aaron Gillane gets his first sight on goal. He catches on the turn, as is his wont, but kicks high over the bar for a point after losing his hurley.
Georoid Hegarty picks up the ball, powers through and fires a cracker to the top corner. What a start from the champions. “Very few players could do what he has done. Most players would have tapped that over the bar from there” - Nicky England on Gearoid Hegarty’s moment of wizardry.
First score of the game as Diarmaid Byrnes converts a free to get us up and running. Moments earlier Padraig Walsh hit the first wide of the contest for Kilkenny.
Colm Lyons of Nemo Rangers throws the ball in and we’re off! Padraig Walsh has first wide for Kilkenny.
Marty sets the scene with typical panache as the teams parade around a packed and sweltering Croker. Advice on factor 75, shoutouts to our emigrants and reflections on the return of a full house. Game on, Ger.
It’s a full house of Limerick win predictions from the RTÉ TV panel. And here come the Artane Band.
John Kiely on RTÉ Radio confirmed that Cian Lynch was ruled out following a training injury last Sunday: “Cian suffered a significant issue at training last Sunday. He is a very important individual and for the lads his absence is an added incentive to produce a performance.”
Who will mark Limerick’s man-in-form Aaron Gillane?
President Michael D Higgins and GAA uachtaran Larry McCarthy are currently greeting the teams and match officials and we’re a few minutes from throw in.
Liam Sheedy: I hope Colm Lyons has the game of his life today. Donal Og trusts the tech and says he'd prefer to see Hawkeye in use than not.
John Mullane on RTÉ Radio has pointed out that Limerick could win the All-Ireland title in FOUR different months - September, December, August and July.
TJ Ryan and Brian Hogan, of the Examiner's hurling podcast, are in short trousers and next to Damien Lawlor.
TJ reckons the warm-up may need to be curtailed in this heat and wouldn't be surprised to see players called ashore earlier than usual.
Will we see Richie Hogan today?
"I hope so," admits Hogie, "I really hope so. The man has given so much service to the jersey over the years. What he's gone through is well documented in terms of injuries and if you go back to the last time a few years ago and the disappointment there, it's a credit to him that he's stayed in. What an arc to the storyline it would be for him to come on in the 60th minute and do what he does best."
Earlier, TJ caught up with Henry Shefflin and fans
The moment Dalo's been organising for two years! The Clare and Wexford jubilee teams.
How many can you name?
What you need to know
Two Ukrainian children brought Liam McCarthy out onto the pitch, clad in Kilkenny and Limerick colours
A recap on today's teams. No changes from the announced lineups
LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Seán Finn (Bruff), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (c, Adare), Dan Morrissey (Ahane); William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Darragh O’Donovan (Doon); Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock).
Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Richie English (Doon), Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock), Barry Murphy (Doon), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister), Oisín O’Reilly (Kilmallock), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca).
Eoin Murphy (Glenmore); Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels), Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels), Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan); Michael Carey (Young Irelands), Richie Reid (c, Ballyhale Shamrocks), Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels); Cian Kenny (James Stephens), Conor Browne (James Stephens); TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Pádraig Walsh (Tullaroan), Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan); Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan), Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks).
Darren Brennan (St Lachtain’s), Conor Delaney (Erins Own), David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), James Maher (St Lachtain’s), Conor Fogarty (Erins Own), Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro), Alan Murphy (Glenmore), Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), John Donnelly (Thomastown), Richie Hogan (Danesfort), Richie Leahy (Rower-Inistioge).
Donal Óg Cusack is breaking down the puckout strategy. Barry Cleary hunted for the small tactical margins for the Irish Examiner
No changes to either starting team at Croke Park, John Fogarty confirms
TJ Reid has been the top scorer in the All-Ireland final on two occasions, 2014 when he scored 1-8 and Seamus Callanan matched him with 2-5, and 2019 when he posted 0-11. Aaron Gillane was joint top-scorer in the 2020 decider, he and Stephen Bennett both shooting 0-10 - John F
John Kiely has been chatting to Marty too: "I'm expecting an almighty battle," he says. "Kilkenny have come through the championship incrementally improving and their performance against Clare was extremely noteworthy. It's a warning to us all that this is a serious, serious challenge."
Declan Hannon insists the three in a row has barely been mentioned and, as Johan Cruyff said in a different code, 'salid y distrudad'.
'We're going to go out and enjoy it.'
Brian Cody has been speaking on RTÉ's TV coverage and sounds typically focused on the job: "They're the All Ireland champions for the past two years and they deserve admiration and respect for the quality that they have. Essentially they have huge physical power, huge physicality, massive skill. They have a structure in a team that they totally believe in and works for them all the time. We have a terrific opportunity for ourselves to take them on. Do we know how difficult it's going to be, of course we do. But are we looking forward to it? We are."
Will Limerick seal an historic three titles on the trot? Can Brian Cody mastermind another All-Ireland final victory? Just how hot will it get at HQ today?
We're less than an hour from throw-in Croke Park and we'll find out the answer to all those questions and more as we go minute-by-minute on an All-Ireland hurling final in July.
Our staff in Croke Park will chip in with their perspective and analysis from the Hogan Stand and we'll keep you up to the date on the latest action on the pitch.
Let us know your pre-game predictions or thoughts throughout the afternoon by emailing
Some pre-match reading?
Anthony Daly is on his way, from the RTÉ studio as I type, to meet his Clare '97 comrades for their silver jubilee parade, but earlier he and Brian Hogan introduced today's cast in this player-by-player guide.
Or put the day in context with this beautiful column from Tadhg Coakley
If Limerick win today, sports psychologist Caroline Currid will be involved with an All-Ireland winning team for a remarkable seventh year. Her previous successful teams: Tyrone 2008, Tipperary 2010, Dublin 2011, Limerick 2018, ‘20, ‘21 - John F
409:The number of competitive games Brian Cody has been involved with as player and manager with Kilkenny. Leo McGough crunched some more numbers
Some of the early arrivals at Croke Park
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