All-Ireland final hammering adds to ugly record for Galway hurlers

This does not make for pretty reading....

They were still in the game at half-time, put an early second-half blitz meant the game was effectively over with more than 15 minutes to go.

It also meant that their All-Ireland final record got even worse, making it just five wins in 26 appearances in hurling's showpiece.

After the game, Limerick manager John Kiely reserved huge praise for his side and his backroom team.

He said: "I'm just thrilled for them. The last two years were very, very difficult to take. We just died in terms of energy when it mattered most (those years) and it really hurt us.

"I suppose that was always going to happen, but to come back for this year, everybody really had to dig very deep. Everybody.

"And they did, right throughout the year. They never left a night go without giving all of their energy on the pitch.

"Everything that Paul (Kinnerk) put in front of them, everything that Adrian (O’Sullivan) put in front of them, everything that Caroline (Currid) put in front of them, they bought into every piece.

"And you don't get days like today without going to the well as deep as they've gone to it.

"I'm just really thrilled and so proud for them. They deserve this moment."