Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng praised Limerick as “a fantastic team” after his side’s All-Ireland SHC final defeat to the Shannonsiders yesterday.

The Treaty men hit top gear in the second-half at Croke Park to kick on towards an impressive 0-30 to 2-15 victory and fourth consecutive Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Speaking to RTE Sport afterwards, Lyng admitted the Cats found it difficult to match their Munster counterparts’ intensity as they moved through the gears in the second period.

"They will always come at you and I was expecting that to happen. It was just about maybe getting one or two scores around that time just to stop it. It's very, very easy to say that. We just found it difficult. We probably weren't efficient enough with some of the chances that we got.

"I felt that maybe a few of the 50-50 calls went Limerick's way. And we needed them. We needed everything. We maybe needed one of those frees around that period just to stem the tide. When they get a run on you, it's very, very difficult to stop it.

"I was really happy [with the first half] and we needed that. Very hard to maintain it. They are such a strong, physical team and they keep coming at you. You could really see some of our players tiring in the second half.

"You have to have the intensity, you have to have the work-rate around the pitch but particularly against them, you have to be there on the breaking ball and winning that. They are just so strong around that middle third and I thought for a long time we made it a really good battle out there.

"Then, they get that flow and they get a bit of room and space, it's not as if we were cut open at all, there were scores from out the field, outrageous scores, fantastic scores and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it.

"I think nine points is harsh on us to be honest but look, it is what it is."

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