Limerick ratings: Hegarty shines as Treaty have too much
Limerick are All-Ireland champions for the 13th time, and the sixth time under John Kiely, after a comprehensive victory over Galway at Croke Park.
Who led their charge to a sixth Liam MacCarthy Cup since 2018?
Limerick
Nickie Quaid - 7Always such a rock in the greatest Limerick team ever, he was able to pick out his men throughout the afternoon as Galway sat back.
Had little to do, in terms of the primary job, and couldn't stop Conor Cooney's bullet penalty with the last puck of the game.
Seán Finn - 6
Gifted Galway an early chance as he tried to play short out from the back, and couldn't get close to Jason Rabbitte for a first-half point.
But did the basics well throughout and he was given a big reception from the Limerick supporters as he came off the park towards the end.
Mike Casey - 6
Bundled Rabbitte over on 10 minutes and was booked for it but stayed on the right side of the referee thereafter.
He was replaced by Dan Morrissey after 53 minutes.
Barry Nash - 7
Did well to get close to Conor Whelan as he sniffed out a goal on 20 mins, conceding a 65 rather than a goal attempt.
Got forward to score a fine point early in the second half as Limerick kept the foot on the pedal.
Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes celebrate another All-Ireland triumph
Diarmaid Byrnes - 7.5
Always capable of a score, the former hurler of the year put Limerick ahead for the first time with a 65.
He won some good early balls in the half-back line to set the agenda in that area of the park.
Scored four points, one of which was a 65, while his last point - his only one from play - was greeted particularly warmly by the Limerick faithful.
Will O'Donoghue - 6
Did his job dutifully in the first half and won a free as he charged out of defence before the break.
Got a block down to prevent a Galway point with 15 minutes to go, but fouled Joshua Ryan to concede the penalty in the second half.
Kyle Hayes - 7
Beloved of the Limerick supporters, he was booked for a late swipe on Tiernan Killeen in the second quarter.
He set up Aaron Gillane for a point a short while later, and then hit a couple of points after the break.
Adam English - 7.5
Was tremendous in that third quarter as Limerick began to really put their mark on the game.
Smashed the post with an early effort but did hit two points over the course of the day. He was booked after a grappling incident with Padraic Mannion early on.
Won the ball from the throw in at the start of the second half and forced Tom Monaghan into a wide shot during Galway's brief purple patch.
Replaced by Darragh O'Donovan after 63 minutes, before a second yellow card could be issued.
Cian Lynch - 7.5
Wasn't fully fit in the build-up, having been pulled shortly before the semi-final, but he was involved everywhere in the first half.
He would smash over his first point just before the break, and continued to dictate terms in the middle third as Limerick stretched away.
Scored his second point in added time, and enjoyed it with a fist pump.
Gearóid Hegarty - 8.5
He was in hurler of the year form before the game, and came away without a score in the All-Ireland final, the same as the semi against Clare.
Once again though, he was sublime for large parts of the contest. He burst through for an early goal chance, forcing a top drawer save from Daragh Fahy. He had another goal chance a short while later, which Fahy was once more equal to.
Diarmuid Byrnes and Gearóid Hegarty celebrate
Hegarty set up English for a point in the first half and forced Ronan Glennon into an overcarry a short while later, which the Limerick faithful loved.
In the 22nd minute, he broke a puck out for Cathal O'Neill to score, and then held up Darren Morrissey to prevent a Galway attack, which ended with a goal chance for Aaron Gillane.
A superb take on the stroke of half-time and all Galway could do was foul him, with Aidan O'Connor putting the free over the bar.
Also set up David Reidy for a point at the death when he could have gone for it himself.
Aidan O'Connor - 7.5
He hit his first of five points from under the Hogan Stand after 17 minutes. Got involved in shoving Aaron Niland into the advertising hoarding in the third quarter, but there was no punishment.
Added a further four points, three from frees, but also showed his versatility as he broke up an attempted Galway attack in the 53rd minute which led to a Peter Casey point.
Cathal O'Neill - 8
The man who scored the goal that really put daylight between the sides after 43 minutes.
He added a further four points as the Munster men overwhelmed Galway. His third point came at an important time as it helped to kill off the challengers' brief period of momentum.
O'Neill ended up as the champions' top scorer with 1-04, all from play.
Aaron Gillane - 7.5
The 2023 hurler of the year scored Limerick's first point in the third minute, and set up Hegarty for his second goal chance.
Hayes set him up for his second score as the game approached the half-hour mark and then added a third, reacting quickest after Shane O'Brien's shot came back off the post.
In the last 10 minutes, Galway gave him some space in the left corner but he didn't need a second invitation to add another score.
Shane O'Brien - 6
The full forward came away scoreless, hitting the post from close range in the first half, before mishitting an attempt early in the second half.
He was replaced by Tom Morrissey after 48 minutes.
Peter Casey - 7
Casey hit Limerick's first wide in the ninth minute but it didn't faze him.
He would go on to score four points from play, including the first score after O'Neill's goal. Casey also broke up an attempted Galway attack under the Cusack Stand after 24 minutes.
He was caught by Ronan Glennon, who was subsequently sent off, and required treatment but returned to the field.
Substitutes
Tom Morrissey - 6
Got more than 20 minutes in the second half and was involved in the play but ended up with a couple of wides.
Dan Morrissey - 6
Came on with just over 15 minutes to go and stuck to his task at a time when the intensity had dropped in the game.
Darragh O'Donovan - 6
Got seven minutes at the end.
David Reidy - 6
Replaced Peter Casey, when he was injured, and then Aidan O'Connor permanently with two minutes to go, managing a point in added time.Colin Coughlan - 6
On for less than five minutes but he set up O'Neill for a score, and prevented a Galway attack late on as the Tribesmen sought a major comeback.
