Limerick held off a late onslaught from Galway in injury time of the All-Ireland final to claim Liam MacCarthy for the first time in 45 years.
"The team had belief in its own abilities, belief in its own resolve; I suppose that never-say-die attitude," Limerick manager John Kiely told RTÉ after the game.
"We worked so hard and Galway pushed us all the way in the last 10 or 15 minutes and it was really difficult for the lads to hold their nerves and get those vital scores but they did. I'm just thrilled for the lads."
The victory ended a long period of the county feeling that they were not quite good enough to win an All-Ireland.
"I'm thrilled for all of Limerick," said Kiely.
We felt for the last 45 years that we were second class citizens when it came to hurling. We were always the bridesmaids and today we got over the line. I'm just so happy for everyone here in this stadium and at home in Limerick.
Kiely described the last moments of the game as "horrendous" as Galway clawed back an eight-point deficit to trail by just the minimum.
"That's what you have to do to get what we have now," concluded Kiely.
"We were always the bridesmaids - but today we got over the line" - John Kiely #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/O7n3DOgXbV
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 19, 2018
