Limerick v Galway player ratings: Byrnes, Hegarty and Lynch star for champions
For a second consecutive game, Gearóid Hegarty went scoreless and yet was a man of the match candidate. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
With Galway dropping off, rightly went short most of the time, and the few occasions in the first half he decided to go long, found Gearóid Hegarty. Won’t be too bothered he didn’t get to keep a clean sheet though he did get a stick to Conor Cooney’s consolation penalty.
The workrate of his colleagues out the field meant he had one of his more comfortable afternoons, but dealt well with his duties, playing some minutes on Jason Rabbitte after snuffing out a possibly early Conor Whelan goal chance.
Struggled on the Rabbitte beat, fouling three times for three points in the first 10 minutes. But after being shown that yellow card and moved off Rabbitte to become the de facto free man, he went on to repeatedly use the ball well.
Exceptional, in both how he cut out and used ball, like when he picked out Cathal O’Neill for a first-half point before then scoring a trademark point of his own.
Helped Limerick settle into the game as much as anyone, winning numerous rucks and nailing three deadballs into the breeze in the opening 16 minutes. Outside of carelessly fouling a ball for an easy Niland free, he was impeccable, finishing with a brilliant point from play on the run underneath the Hogan Stand.
This season has manned the number six spot as well as his predecessor and old colleague Declan Hannon ever did. Was involved in four of Limerick’s 14 scores by repeatedly stopping anything getting through and coming out with the ball and distributing it smartly.
Had a quiet enough first half, outside of fouling Tiernan Killeen which warranted a yellow card but no one was on the ball more after half-time. He was everywhere, registering his first points of the season since his team’s third game of the Munster championship and was involved in numerous other scores, including Cathal O’Neill’s goal.
From the start dictated the tone of the game with the number of rucks he won and turnovers he forced in the opening 10 minutes. So many scores went through his hands – as magical as the game has known – not to mention two delightful points he fired over himself. For all the games they’ve won without him starting or featuring, Limerick are a different team with him.
Lynch has had some excellent midfield partners over the years but English here complemented him as well as O’Donovan or O’Donoghue ever has on an All-Ireland final day, with countless interceptions and passes to go with his own 0-2 from play.
For a second consecutive game went scoreless and yet was a man of the match candidate. Could have had 2-1 after 20 minutes – a tally he has put up on All-Ireland final days before – but more than compensated for those misses with 0-6 of Limerick’s first 0-12 coming off his various catches and flick-downs and tackles and passes. Immense.
Finished with 0-5, including a brilliant point on the left touchline underneath the Hogan into the Hill to duly do his bit in complementing the class of 2018.
Probably the best of the post-2018 class on the day, rebounding excellently from missing his first shot at the posts to score 1-4, the most of anyone from play.
Justified Kiely’s faith in him and reinforced his remarkable big-day reputation, going on to play here as if the Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final never happened and he was just picking up from where he left off in the league final that he illuminated back in April. Had already racked up 0-3 after just 27 minutes but our favourite stretch of his here was the three assists he popped off for others during one 10-minute spell.
The one player in green it didn’t quite flow for but that won’t tarnish the first All-Ireland medal he’s won.
Let the Galway backs coming out with the ball know they weren’t playing Cork here with his relentless tackling and movement. Personifies his team’s fight and also flair, firing over 0-4 from play as well.
For the first time since Ennis the game was won before any of them were unleashed but they’d help put the icing on this cake, particularly in how Colin Coughlan broke a tackle to set up a late point and then David Reidy fired over one of his own.
Three of first four restarts went long and were lost. Retention improved thereafter as he dressed in short and mid-range efforts. Superb in twice denying Hegarty a green flag in opening six minutes. One second-half puck-out went straight to Lynch for a Barry Nash point.
Bottom line in assessing Ryan is that the player he was charged with marshalling, Peter Casey, finished with 0-4 and knitted so many Limerick attacks. The 22-year-old had his moments, but not half enough of them. Was fouled for late penalty.
Was assigned the Gillane brief. Awful news for Trayers was that Gillane decided to reach his highest performance level since April 5. Took him for three first-half points. Credit to Trayers for a double block to deny Casey green and white flags. Much more assertive second-half showing.
Bested Aidan O’Connor in their respective duel. Himself and Daithí Burke the only two defenders to achieve such. Wasn’t immune, though, from being caught in green web. Intercepted pass to Conor Whelan led to O’Connor's 41st-minute point.
His casualness with a first-half clearance saw him hooked by Hegarty. Early in the second half he was turned over for a Cathal O’Neill point. He fouled for another second-half Limerick point. A key Galway chess piece who scored nought for influence.
Stood beside Shane O’Brien, unexpectedly so. Unlike the semi-final, he was so assured in his work. His movement was in no way restricted. Again impressed in a slightly advanced second-half role.
Desperate struggle in the company of Hegarty. Limerick mined two first-half points off Hego winning and breaking two puck-outs over him. Glennon fouled him for a converted free. He overcarried for another converted first-half free. A 57th-minute red compounded a nightmare outing.
Assisted Galway’s opening point from play. Fouled for their sixth. Two unflattering moments before his 60th-minute removal summed up his lot. Was turned over for a Peter Casey point. Then had a headless shot for goal, from 25 metres out, that was blocked at source.
Registered the first Galway wide. Represented the first Galway player to be called ashore on 47 minutes. Did win a converted second-half free. Ultimately, though, it was his opposite number, Cian Lynch, who shone, not he.
Two points, two wides. A pair of stats showing how his graph collapsed from where it was coming in. His loose pass fed Limerick’s opening score. Extremely harsh that he was the first forward called ashore. He had belatedly grown into the final when hooked on 54 minutes.
No conducting, no playmaking. No nothing. Subdued, suffocated, and eventually subbed off. Two incidents illustrate it: swarmed and dispossessed by four Limerick players for Peter Casey’s 43rd-minute point, then again hounded out of possession on the Hogan Stand sideline for a Byrnes point late on.
Unless we missed an early one, Neary’s first possession didn’t arrive until the 33rd minute. He was promptly turned over and Cian Lynch pointed. Booked before half-time. Got the wheels turning in the second half from midfield. Galway’s most prominent second-half performer.
Perplexing that he lasted the distance, especially considering some of the forwards whipped ahead of him. One wide in either half. The afternoon was captured in the 72nd minute when his pass, from inside the Galway half, was blocked down by David Reidy and Lynch pointed.
Once again you could only admire his fight against grizzled campaigners. When he caught a Galway puck-out on the half-hour and found the range from an acute angle, it meant four of Galway’s opening 0-7 came from the U20. Didn’t have the same second-half prominence.
Credit to the kid, he fronted up after a poor semi-final. Bar a first-half free that landed short, he nailed his other nine placed-ball efforts. Delivered Galway’s first from play on 18 minutes. Naive in taking the ball into contact against Kyle Hayes early doors. Will grow from having showed up.
struck a penalty, a free, and one from play when introduced. Did also tally two wides.
was fouled for a converted free. Got his hands on a nice bit of possession in his time on the field and endeavoured to create.
nicked a point, while and saw game-time but little involvement.
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