Enda McEvoy: Limerick set the template for 2023 - now comes the hard part for the pack in pursuit 

Limerick’s campaign will eventually become a module on further-education courses. It was a triumph of strategy, tactics, planning, logistics, the works. After a 2021 championship of four outings they had to gear themselves for a 2022 championship of seven outings.

HEROES: Limerick Hurling Stars Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane lift the Liam McCarthy aloft to joy of the thousands of fans at the TUS Gaelic grounds as the Limerick hurlers were greeted to a huge reception at Colbert station to meet them off the train and follow them on an open top bus through the city and on stage at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

SO a little later than usual, certain unforeseen developments having intervened last week, let’s set about the last few items of housekeeping from the 2022 hurling championship.

A great All Ireland final? Not quite. At the risk of getting all Eamon Dunphy on it, it wasn’t a showpiece straight outta Valhalla — the first half was way too one-sided, regardless of what the scoreboard said at the interval — but it can certainly be placed in the front rank of the very good ones. Full value for money, all kinds of fun, the issue in doubt till the last whistle and something for everyone in the audience.