'I’m just thrilled for them. The last two years were very, very difficult to take. We just died in terms of energy when it mattered most and it really hurt us.’

LIMERICK manager John Kiely couldn’t pay enough compliments to his group of players following their 11-point win over Galway in the All-Ireland final.

Kiely’s men blitzed Galway in the second half to win their 13th ever Liam MacCarthy Cup, sixth under his management, and their first since 2023.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Sunday Game following the final whistle, Kiely paid tribute to his group of players following two years of hurt at GAA HQ. Later, he described the feeling of success as ‘joy’.

'I’m just thrilled for them. The last two years were very, very difficult to take. We just died in terms of energy when it mattered most and it really hurt us.”

"I suppose that was always going to happen, but to come back for this year, everybody really had to dig very deep, everybody.

"And they did, right throughout the year. They never left the night go without giving all of their energy on the pitch.

"Everything that Paul (Kinnerk) put in front of them, everything that Adrian (O’Brien) put in front of them, everything that Caroline (Currid) put in front of them, they bought into every piece.

"And you don't get days like today without going to the well as deep as they've gone to it. So I'm just really thrilled and so proud for them.”

Following the presentation of the Liam MacCarthy cup to captain Cian Lynch, Kiely spoke to reporters in the bowels of Croke Park (watch above).