Just back from FBD Semple Stadium.
Thatās why weāre top fucking dogs. What a team. Heart, bottle, character, skill, a refusal to bend the knee - this team has it all.
The inaugural Mick Mackey will fittingly rest in its rightful place. It was never going anywhere else. This group wouldnāt countenance it.
Four Munster titles in a row. Phenomenal consistency and a vice like grip on the province. For context we won three from 1982 to 2018 inclusive. This is a golden age.
A cracking occasion. Proper Munster championship. The great thing about the round Robin is it weeds out the dross. We got a superb final between the two best sides. The place was heaving, the ground shook at Boylanās and WODās late scores. It ebbed and flowed all the way but the champions refused to buckle. Youāll get a bang for your buck following this team, win lose or draw.
Sham Flan. What a man. Roasted them. Different class. Got a disgraceful filthy belt from behind but he quietened him where it matters. Hannon was immense too - heās the best centre back of the last 30 years. Those who live in the past will still champion Sean McMahon, who was a fine player, but Hannon is better. He has done it as a forward too, unlike McMahon.
Nash and Finn excellent too, not a great day for Byrnes but heāll bounce back. He always does. The subs were unreal. Mul turfing St Tony out over the line was a pivotal moment, major momentum shift. St. Tony hardly featured after and even went off for a finish I think. The sideline was class, but when it came to the crunch the green machine got it done.
A fifth Munster title for the skipper, Quaid and Mul. Warriors and winners.
Clare will be in the All-Ireland final IMO. Theyāll beat Wexford, who always bend over at the sight of the Clare jersey, and will probably take Kilkenny too. David Fitz is a proper hurler.
Looking like the winner of Cork and Galway in the semi. On the law of averages both of them are due one against us. The four week lay off will be a huge disadvantage too, as has been shown time and time again. If we are beaten so be it, we still have a trophy to show for the year.
To be missing half a forward line in 2 x HOTY Lynch, P Casey and Murphy but still surviving is a fair achievement. Down to the bare bones. Hayes came into it in the second half of normal time but this experiment is not really working. A call will have to be made there. If Mike Caseyās injury is bad then the solution is obvious - Dan to 3, Hayes to wing back and Lynch back to the forwards. Thatās a discussion for another night.
Who is the new ape on the tannoy in Thurles. Every five mins he was announcing ācan Paddy Joe in the Killinan End please contact a stewardā - right as an exciting passage of play was unfolding and the crowd engrossed in it. Dope.
The crowd carried the team home in the extra time. The noise was mental. Limerick fans all giving a Brendan Bugler fist pump as the late points rained over. Thought the ref let it flow fairly consistently but itās gone beyond a joke with Hegarty now, has to GBH for him to get a free. Players hanging off him all day. 12/1 for first goal today though, money for jam.
No sign of tattooed hard man Aaron Fitz. Still recovering after that serious assault from Hego, no doubt. Mind you John Conlon has filled that particular void seamlessly, throwing himself to the ground every five mins. Sad to see a great player resort to those antics.
Anyway, on we march. Way more satisfying to win a battle than win comfortably. As gutsy a display as Iāve ever seen from a Limerick team.
Bank Holiday pints all the sweeter tonight.
