League scare ensured Limerick kept the foot on the gas in Croker
The Patrickswell man was back to his best in the All-Ireland final and Limerick fans were delighted to see it
THE crowd knew it was over long before the final whistle. However for the Limerick players, they remained focused on the task at hand, determined to see out a sixth All-Ireland title for many of this group and a 13th in the county’s history.
“It's very hard to put into words this soon, I'd say it'll be a couple of months before it sinks in,” said Aaron Gillane.
After the buzz of playing in front of over 82,000 people where the Patrickswell man got off to a flying start, scoring three from play in the first half, Monday morning was a more low-key affair.
With a coffee in hand, Gillane was content to sample the quieter ambiance of the hotel lobby in the Clayton Burlington as Limerick supporters and players one-by-one came downstairs, some still in disbelief at what they witnessed the previous afternoon.
“I obviously haven't had this feeling in a good couple of years. I'm just absolutely thrilled to get over the line there now yesterday - it means an awful amount to us.”
The almost-comeback from the Tribesmen in the league tie in the TUS Gaelic Grounds in the spring meant that Gillane and his side was never quite able to think his side were over the line until the final whistle.
“I can't really (take in the win), in fairness, because I think we kind of made that mistake in the league we played Galway, we were 11 or 12 points up in the second half, they went and brought it back to a point, so that's testament to Galway. They're obviously a great team, you know, so when you're in an All-Ireland final, obviously you're taking nothing for granted.
“I just don't think we ever took the foot off the throttle, we keep going from the final whistle.”
Sunday night’s banquet gave the players the opportunity to take in the win with friends and family - an important thing considering the sacrifices those around the team make, the Patrickswell man noted.
“We're spending five days a week with the teammates, we're basically living in each other's pockets, but getting to enjoy last night with parents and partners and wives, that's very important too, because they obviously do a lot of work for us behind the scenes,” the six-time All-Ireland winner said.
“We're obviously very grateful for and appreciative of that, so it's good to take a night out of it.”
There were murmurs of 2026 being a ‘last dance’ for some of this team, the bulk of which have been together since the successful U21 campaign of 2015. But from spending time with players and backroom team members on Sunday and Monday, it is clear that the hunger is there for more success.
And there is no reason to think this is the end of the success for this group.
“As long as you're playing, you're going to want to keep winning. It'd be a waste of time going back next year if you didn't think you were going to be able to show that you are winning something,” the Patrickswell man added.