Topping off an incredible year for Limerick hurling, Cian Lynch was presented with The PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year award at tonight's ceremony in Dublin's Convention Centre.
A pivotal member of John Kiely's All-Ireland winning side, the midfielder from Patrickswell overcame Galway's Joe Canning and Pádraic Mannion to claim the final award of the night.
The first Limerick man to win the award since its inception in 1995, an emotional Lynch appeared truly moved by what he had just achieved.
"I don't know, it's what you dream of as a kid like," Lynch stated.
"Even seeing the videos there of DJ Carey, Henry Shefflin, even Joe Canning last year you know?
"I see my parents up there and they brought me to games as a young lad, and I remember running onto the pitch looking for Joe Canning's autograph."
"For me to have the opportunity to stand up here, it goes back to the small things, back to the family."
A poignant reminder of the importance of family and the club to the inter-county star, the induction of Patrickswell's Leonard Enright into the Hall of Fame corresponded with the club's own Cian Lynch claiming the top award tonight.
An wonderful interview from The PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year for 2018, you can watch it here.
