EVEN the highest office holder within the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) did not honestly feel – like the overwhelming majority of supporters – that Dublin would eliminate outright favourites Limerick from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 2025.
However, as well documented, the metropolitans – at a numerical disadvantage for the greater part of the contest with the dismissal of Chris Crummey on just 15 minutes – overturned our generational heroes, 2-24 to 0-28, in a thriller quarter-final watched by an attendance of 36,500 at Croke Park.
The goals were flashed home in the blink of an eye midway through the closing period courtesy of half-time substitute John Hetherton and Cian O’Sullivan.
In his programme contribution, GAA President Jarlath Burns suggested: “Limerick’s road to recovery starts here.”
“Only penalties could separate them from the rebels in a pulsating Munster final. It is a testament to John Kiely’s Treaty men that championship defeats are not something they taste too often, and they will use the sting of losing their grip on the Mackey Cup to unleash them onto the Liam MacCarthy stage.”
Fired-up Dublin were under the management of Niall Ó Ceallacháin, who guided his native Na Fianna – a side that included 2020 All-Ireland winning Limerick panellist Brian Ryan of South Liberties – to the national club title at the outset of the year.
“Now he has the chance to write a bigger chapter in the history of hurling,” commented Burns ahead of the fixture.
That’s exactly what unfolded at headquarters.
A crestfallen Limerick manager John Kiely was keen to give their conquerors the plaudits, telling RTÉ Sport that Dublin “were super. Even at 14 men, you wouldn’t have missed the 15th man not being on the field being honest about it.”
“Breaking ball, they were there, their aggression levels were brilliant, they were super in the tackle, they were accurate – they were just at a higher level of performance than us today.
“They deserved their win completely and hats off to Niall and his team, they had them absolutely on the money. Congratulations to them.”
Dublin next meet Munster champions Cork.
