It's six-in-a-row for Limerick in Munster after a second-half romp brought them a six-point victory over Clare in Semple Stadium.
Throw-in was delayed by 30 minutes for the hotly-anticipated clash, due to a mass power outage across Thurles.
When the game got underway at 4:30pm, it seemed as though we were in for a repeat of the 2022 classic, with the sides trading scores for much of the first-half.
The sides went in level at the break, after a brilliant Peter Duggan goal with virtually the last puck of the opening period. However, Limerick would pull a trick we have seen on many an occasion in the past few years and pulled away early in the second half to keep Clare at arm's length.
The Banner were by no means poor but the ruthless efficiency of the Limerick machine meant that they were hoping for a big swing by the time the game was nearing its end.
As they push for a fifth Liam MacCarthy triumph in a row, Limerick's dominance of Munster has now reached hitherto unprecedented levels. John Kiely's side has now become the first ever to win six Munster titles in a row.
Speaking on RTÉ post-match, Dónal Óg Cusack highlighted the young players coming through as a frightening example of why there is no end in sight for Limerick's dominance.
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Limerick romp to victory over Clare in Munster final
9 June 2024; Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick celebrates scoring a goal during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Clare and Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Dónal Óg Cusack
You can see that these guys are on an elite path in terms of getting better and better. That's their challenge.
I imagine they'll go back in the evening, they'll be looking at this game, they'll be looking at the numbers, looking at the stats saying, 'the next day, how can we get there? How can we get more efficient, how can we get more scores?'
One of the most frightening things for the rest of the country...and I know these platitudes can be thrown out, but look at what they finished with there. They finished with Shane O'Brien, Adam English, Aidan O'Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, all younger players and newer players coming on to the scene.
With the current iteration of this Limerick team showing no sign of slowing down any time soon, it is indeed frightening for the rest of the country's hurling contenders to see the fresh injection of talent into an already stacked squad.
Shane O'Brien was singled out for praise by Man of the Match Gearóid Hegarty in his post-match interview. O'Brien played all 70 minutes for the All-Ireland champions, with the 19-year-old scoring 0-02 from full forward.
Limerick now progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals in four week's time, while Clare will face the winners of Wexford v Laois in the quarter-finals in a fortnight.
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