Debate over legitimacy of stunning Hegarty goal in Limerick win

Some debate here....

Two goals in the space of a minute from Peter Casey and Gearoid Hegarty saw the Treaty County shake off a Waterford outfit and condemn them to a seventh-consecutive early-round exit.

However, there was a lot of talk around Hegarty's goal, and whether he meant his stunning sliced effort or not. (You can watch the goal below).

Fans on social media and in particular X have argued whether the St Patrick's forward meant it or not.

A former data & analysis coach for Dublin and Tipperary, Ray Boyne lauded the goal: "Gearóid Hegarty with the softest hands in hurling. Not power, pure touch. A slice lob into the net. That’s not a goal… that’s artistry.

"In golf it’s a flop shot. In tennis it’s a slice lob. In hurling it’s Gearóid Hegarty."

In response to the praise by the analyst on Hegarty, one user comically downplayed the shot, writing: "When it's a clear miss hit but this guy makes it out to be a Hegarty master class."

Another X user praised the enginuity of the shot: "Various reports saying Gearoid Hegarty mishit the shot, but he clearly didn’t. The audacity to chip the falling Billy Nolan, absolute genius."

Other users simply weren't having that the five time All-Ireland winner intended on delicately chipping Billy Nolan.

"Mishits the ball into the net... lads making this out to be some sort of majestic Tiger Woods piece of artistry are talking rubbish," another user said.

Fluke goal or sporting genius, Gearoid Hegarty and Limerick will take on Tipperary next Sunday in the Munster SHC at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Can Hegarty come up with more brilliance?