Maurice Brosnan's hurling observations: Where next for Galway after All-Ireland final loss?

In this column at the start of the season, we offered eight bold predictions. It is only right to close out by revisiting those pre-season calls.

TRIBAL DEVASTATION: Limerick manager John Kiely shakes hands with Galway players who look dejected after the final whistle at Croke Park. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

When the third strike resulted in a deserved booking eyes all over Croke Park instinctively turned towards the far sideline. Mike Casey, Sean Finn and Jason Rabbitte all glanced over in the same direction. Elsewhere, some were gripped by dread.

It is hard to imagine such a one-sided final had a moment of such tension, but Casey’s third foul on the Galway full-back forced Limerick to change the matchup. For the next puckout, the Na Piarsaigh number three took off out the field following Conor Whelan. Finn stayed close to goal.