Gearoid Hegarty: ‘I don't really care about six-in-a-row’

GEARÓID Hegarty was superb in Limerick’s victory over Clare in the Munster SHC Final and the St Patrick's clubman was awarded Man of the Match for his display in Thurles on Sunday where he chipped in with 1-2 from play.

The Limerick wing forward feels Limerick are in a great position after winning the Munster Senior Hurling Championship for a record sixth year in a row.

“The Munster Championship is so difficult. It’s incredible to think that we have even done six in-a-row,” Hegarty told RTEs Sunday Game after the provincial final at Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

“To be honest with you, I don’t really care about the six-in-a-row. I just wanted to win the 2024 Munster Championship. It just puts us in a great position going forward this year."

“I know the last few years have been unbelievable. It's probably something that we'll look back on in time to say how the hell did we do that. Right now, I'm just so happy that we are in an All-Ireland semi-final.”

Gearóid Hegarty was speaking to RTE Sport after being awarded the Bord Gais Energy Man of the Match accolade.

The 2020 Hurler of the Year was central to Limerick's dominant performance chipping in with some key scores and winning some vital turnovers.

“We don't care about what happened last year or the year before."

“I couldn't care less about what's happened since 2018. It's just how good can we be this year. I think we've improved every game."

“We had a setback down in Cork and I think every single game we've improved week on week we've improved. And I think we've improved again today. That's what it takes. We won by six points in the end but it didn't feel like a six point win at times because it was close out there.”

The St Patrick's clubman has put Limerick's hunger down to their younger players within the squad. Shane O'Brien impressed in his first start where he was on target with 0-2 from play, while Adam English and Cathal O'Neill also contributed key scores in the historic success.

“The young lads, you see Shane O'Brien making his first start today. A young fella at 19 to be able to do what he did when he comes on. I don't want to be heaping too much pressure on him but he's well able, he's a big strong man."

“I wouldn't have started with a senior club team when I was 19 not to mind an inter-county team. Adam coming on and Colin Coughlan is flying in training. They're the boys that give us the energy.”

Peter Duggan scored a goal right before the interval to have the sides level at the break, 1-10 to 0-13. However, Limerick didn't panic in the second half where the reigning Munster outscored 1-13 to 0-10.

“I thought we were in a great position at half-time. It would of been unbelievable position to go in three points up against a strong wind. Sometimes it's hard to see on TV but it was a very strong wind out there."

“I'm sure you saw it in the second half. We were happy enough with where we were in the second half.”