ACCORDING to the finest of dictionaries, the meaning of surreal is “not seeming real”, which can most certainly be applied to the 138th Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final at the Gaelic Grounds last Saturday.
In front of a spellbound attendance of 43,580, Limerick’s quest for an astonishing seventh Munster Senior Hurling Championship win on the trot was undone by Cork.
Across normal and extra time in this absorbing final, the teams were level on a whopping 17 occasions.
It finished, before the fateful penalties, Limerick 2-27, Cork 1-30.
With a ‘Winner on the Day’ scenario in place, the thrilling contest went to a dreaded penalty shoot-out, where Cork prevailed 3-2.
For Limerick, the strikers were Diarmaid Byrnes (goal), Aaron Gillane (goal), Barry Murphy (wide), Tom Morrissey (saved), and Declan Hannon (wide), while for Cork the hitters were Darragh Fitzgibbon (saved), Conor Lehane (goal), Shane Kingston (goal), and Alan Connolly (goal).
With a penalty in hand, the Leesiders were crowned champions for a 55th occasion.
“I think everybody would agree that it is normal play that a game should be finished,” commented Limerick manager John Kiely later when questioned on whether penalties should decide such a marquee occasion.
“Listen, these are the rules, these are the procedures, and we have to go with that. Fair play to Cork. They took the penalties when they came around.”
He added: “There is no dress rehearsal for this, there is no practising for this. It is just put your best foot forward.”
“You are taking a shot on behalf of the group, it is not on the lads.
Concluded the Limerick boss: “All told, I have just to be super proud of our fellas for the effort they put in. It was just an incredible effort.”
“We have six out of seven Munster finals, that record will stand a long time.”
“This is a brilliant Limerick team,” acknowledged triumphant Cork boss Pat Ryan. “Going for seven Munsters in a row. It’ll never be done again. Limerick are a brilliant team.”
Limerick will run up against the winners of this weekend’s tussle between McDonagh Cup champions Kildare and Dublin in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Championship on June 21/22.
