All-Ireland SHC final: terrific Treaty complete clean sweep

Waterford's Jack Fagan with Barry Nash of Limerick. ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

Gearoid Hegarty slotted seven points from play as Limerick claimed their second All-Ireland in three years, beating Waterford by 0-30 to 0-19 at Croke Park.

Victory means John Kiely’s all-conquering charges have won all 13 competitive matches they played this year to complete an incredible clean sweep of Munster league, national league, Munster SHC and now All-Ireland SHC. They are the second team in history to rack up 30 points in an All-Ireland final and Declan Hannon has become only the second Limerick man – following in the footsteps of the legendary Mick Mackey – to captain his county to two All-Irelands.

While Man of the Match Hegarty was immense in helping his county to glory, this was a superb all-round team display from the Treaty County, who were served by outstanding performances all over the pitch, goalkeeper Nicky Quaid, Sean Finn, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey, Hannon, Aaron Gillane and Seamus Flanagan others to catch the eye on the biggest stage of all.

The winners had nine different scorers and fired over 24 points from play in this novel decider played behind closed doors in perfect conditions in mid-December. Despite bossing much of the first half, Limerick led by just three points at half time, 0-14 to 0-11, their opponents hanging in there resolutely despite losing Tadhg De Burca to injury, his replacement Iarlaith Daly impressing with a solid display.

While the 2018 champions registered twelve times from play in the first half, seven first-half Stephen Bennett frees and a jaw-dropping Stephen O’Keeffe double save kept the beaten Munster finalists in contention.

Jack Fagan blazed an early Waterford goal effort inches to the left of Quaid’s post either side of opening Limerick points from the outstanding Tom Morrissey and full forward Flanagan, but Na Deise were level by the sixth minute thanks to a brace of Stephen Bennett frees - the first a monster strike from his own 65.

Wonderful points from Tom Morrissey and Gillane restored the two-point gap before the latter slotted his first converted free to make it five points to two after twelve minutes. O’Keeffe executed his terrific double stop to deny first the flying Hayes then Cian Lynch, Gillane tapping over another free to stretch the gap, Austin Gleeson replying with a sensational long-range point between the Hill 16 posts from under the Hogan Stand. William O’Donoghue and Hannon pointed either side of a Bennett free to propel the Munster champions into a double-scores advantage at the first water break, eight to four.

The underdogs suffered a massive blow after 21 minutes when their inspirational sweeper De Burca departed the fray with a knee injury, Gleeson spearing over a breath-taking point from a sideline cut after Hegarty and Hayes had added to the Limerick lead. Kieran Bennett pulled it back to a four-point game again. No sooner had Stephen Bennett fired Waterford’s third unanswered point than Limerick replied with Tom Morrissey’s third, then Gillane’s fourth.

Stephen Bennett pointed a couple of frees either side of excellent Limerick points from Gillane and Hegarty. Na Deise moved closer as Bennett converted his seventh pointed free and Gleeson whipped one over from play to leave just three between the sides at the short whistle. Waterford had another goal chance at the end of the opening period but Stephen Bennett’s shot was too close to Quaid, who gathered comfortably.

At the end of an unprecedented year, with the nation ravaged by a pandemic, the All-Ireland final that many thought would never happen was staged behind closed doors at Croker a dozen days shy of Christmas. Astonishingly, given the unseasonal time of year, conditions for hurling were absolutely perfect, with nary a puff of wind.

Limerick captain Declan Hannon lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

This was a repeat of the Munster final, wherein John Kiely’s men defeated Na Deise by four points four weeks ago, having ousted Clare and Tipperary en route. The Treaty County subsequently accounted for beaten Leinster finalists Galway in their All-Ireland semi-final, while Liam Cahill’s charges brushed themselves down to qualify for the Liam MacCarthy decider with magnificent victories over Clare and Leinster champions Kilkenny. Having gone two full years without winning a championship match, Waterford had beaten Cork on Halloween to qualify for the provincial final.

Holders of both the national league and Munster crowns, the Treaty County were aiming for their 13th successive victory of the year in all competitions. They were also gunning for a second All-Ireland in three years, while the Suirsiders in contrast were bidding to annex the Liam McCarthy Cup for the first time since 1959 and third time ever.

Limerick slotted four unanswered points in the first five minutes after the resumption: Flanagan gathered a diagonal Hayes pass to slot the first point of the second half and Hegarty extended the gap to five with his third score before Gillane (free) and Hegarty registered.

Hegarty claimed his fourth and fifth in between a Bennett free and a Dessie Hutchinson strike. When Morrissey bagged his fourth, Kevin Moran retorted but Limerick led by seven after 45 minutes. Calum Lyons’ inspirational point from distance was struck off by Gillane’s seventh (free) and further Limerick points flowed via Hegarty and Gillane (free), Stephen Bennett replying from play to pare the gap back to eight at the second water break.

Gillane and Gleeson exchanged frees and the former whipped one over from play before Quaid got down low to his right to deny Lyons the goal that might have handed the losers a late lifeline. Gleeson’s classy point kept Waterford’s side of the scoreboard moving but back came Hegarty with his seventh of the day to leave eight points between these teams with only five minutes remaining.

Substitute Pat Ryan and Diarmuid Byrnes added to the winning tally before Morrissey, who had opened the scoring, also closed it. What a performance! What a team!

Limerick - N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, B Nash; D Byrnes (0-1), D Hannon (0-1), K Hayes (0-1); D O’Donovan, W O’Donoghue (0-1); G Hegarty (0-7), C Lynch, T Morrissey (0-5); A Gillane (0-10, 6f), S Flanagan (0-3), G Mulcahy. Subs: P Casey for G Mulcahy, D Reidy for D O’Donovan, P Ryan (0-1) for S Flanagan, A Breen for A Gillane, P O’Loughlin for K Hayes.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; I Kenny, C Prunty, S McNulty; C Lyons (0-1), T De Burca, K Moran (0-1); J Barron, K Bennett (0-1); J Fagan, N Montgomery, S Bennett (0-10, 9f); D Hutchinson (0-1), A Gleeson (0-5, 1sl, 1f), J Prendergast. Subs: I Daly for T De Burca, D Lyons for K Bennett, C Gleeson for N Montgomery, P Curran for K Moran, S Fives for I Kenny.

Referee - F Horgan.