WATCH: All-Ireland Champions visit Children's Ark in UHL with Liam MacCarthy

THERE was scenes of joy and a respite for some of the youngest patients in University Hospital Limerick as the All-Ireland Hurling Champions visited the Children's Ark. 

Captain Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash and John Kiely made it their first point of call having lifted the Liam MacCarthy on the steps of the Hogan Stand the evening before. 

The players and management brought the famous silverware into the playground located at the heart of the hospital where jerseys were signed, photos taken and smiles and laughter plentiful.

"You come in here and these really are the people that need a bit of sunshine or a ray of hope, get to bring a bit of joy to their life when times are very tough, it's special for us to be here but it's great to see that we do put a smile on their faces and make an impact," the Ahane player added. 

"Don't know if its really soaked in, just delighted to have won another All-Ireland, celebrations were good last night and feeling happy waking up this morning anyway," Tom Morrissey said. 

As for the atmosphere in Croke Park, the forward explained: "I think you particularly heard it when we started edging back at the start of the second half as well, the stadium got very loud, you could really hear the support".

A homecoming is happening on Monday evening where the entire team will take to the stage set up at Pery Square and with thousands of fans expected, the sharp shooter is eagerly awaiting another celebration. 

"We don't get tired of those, definitely looking forward to later on, as you said the Limerick support yesterday was brilliant and looking forward again to sharing a great moment with them later on," he told Limerick Leader/ Limerick Live.