Peter Casey's 'sheer elation' following Limerick's All-Ireland triumph
LIMERICK forward Peter Casey has described the post-All-Ireland final feeling as “sheer elation”.
The Na Piarasigh man continued his impressive record in finals, scoring 0-4 from play in the 11-point win over Galway. He scored 0-5 in the 2023 final win over Kilkenny, also all from play.
Casey’s side were improving incrementally throughout the season before ending with a crescendo that blow the Leinster champions away as John Kiely’s men sauntered to victory.
“I think the most satisfying thing is just getting our best performance out yesterday was obviously really, really satisfying,” Casey said.
“So I'm just delighted and really looking forward to the next couple of days.”
After a three-year wait, the Liam MacCarthy Cup is returning to Shannonside.
While historically that isn’t a long gap for Limerick, however with this group so used to the winners’ circle, it felt like a lifetime.
“I think every All-Ireland you win is obviously special. They're incredibly hard to win.
"So any win that you do get, you kind of cherish it. If anything, it's more satisfying than anything else because it took two or three years to get back here again,” Casey added.
Part of Kiely and coach Paul Kinnerk’s preparation for this final was counteracting the Galway game-plan.
Micheál Donoghue is coaching a side that play a different brand of hurling - getting lots of men back, but also shooting a lot and running up big scores.
“We knew the challenge that Galway were going to bring,” Casey said.
“A really good side that run the ball really well, so we knew that there was going to be a lot of turnovers and stuff like that in the middle and there was going to be lots of bodies.”
Playing against the breeze, the Na Piarasigh man was “delighted” with how they started the game.
“In the first half, there was actually a significant breeze there, which you probably wouldn't realise even in the stands or even at home watching on the TV.
“So I think to go in five points up, we had a lot of work done. So it was just trying to keep the foot on the pedal.
"I suppose, in the second half and the third quarter, I think we really did that, to be fair, and put the game to bed, really.”
Lining out for so years with Limerick alongside his brother Mike, the glory days are special for the Casey clan.
A special mention, too, was given to their home club of Na Piarsaigh.
“We wouldn't be here without our clubs,” he said. “I'm sure there were lots of Na Piarsaigh folks there in the stands yesterday and obviously ones that are back in the club watching as well, and they're incredibly proud too.
“The club make us. So we're looking forward to obviously going back to them now in the next couple of weeks and enjoying it with them too.”
The Limerick club hurling championship’s begin this weekend.