Limerick players enjoy intimate pitch celebration following Munster SHC final win

THE FANS had filtered out of the stadium. The birds were picking at the tasty crumbs from the sweet stalls. The evening sun was smiling on the Treaty city. And there, on the warm sod of TUS Gaelic Grounds which provided the perfect underfoot for a white-hot battle between men only three hours earlier, Limerick's senior hurlers sat together and took it all in.

It was an intimate celebration for the newly-crowned five-in-a-row Munster champions. But there were no thrones for the Kings of Munster. Instead, around 30 chairs - plastic, wooden, iron, you name it - provided some respite for weary bodies, tired minds and full hearts. 

Dressed in T-shirts and jeans with a cool beverage in hand, the hurling heroes and their mentors moved to the beat of 80s and 90s classics including Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down'.  And they didn't - a one-point win over Clare in the mid-afternoon had proved just that.

'Walking in Memphis' and the Chesney Hawkes' classic, 'The One and Only' also blasted from the Gaelic Grounds' PA system, dancing in the Caherdavin air along Ennis Road to tell Munster who's on top! 

The 'post match chill-out session' is becoming something of a ritual for the Limerick men - it also took place following the victory over Cork in Limerick's final round robin game, a win over Cork that saw them into today's unforgettable Munster decider.

Limerick are now into the All-Ireland semi-final following the 1-23 to 1-22 win over The Banner in a game that was a nail-biter from start to finish.

Aaron Gillane was presented with the man of the match award following a stunning performance that yielded a scoring haul of 1-11, 1-3 of which came from play.

Limerick and Kilkenny are the only two teams confirmed for the All-Ireland semi-finals, which are due to take place on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9.