2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
Event2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Limerick Kilkenny
0-30 2-15
Date23 July 2023
VenueCroke Park, Dublin
Man of the MatchPeter Casey
RefereeJohn Keenan (Wicklow)
Attendance82,300
WeatherCloudy with a moderate to fresh northerly breeze
17 °C (63 °F)[1]

The 2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, the 136th final of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the culmination of the 2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, was played at Croke Park in Dublin on 23 July 2023.[2][3]

The match was televised live on RTÉ2 as part of The Sunday Game, presented by Joanne Cantwell from the Croke Park studio with analysis by Anthony Daly, Dónal Óg Cusack and Liam Sheedy. Commentary on the game was provided by Marty Morrissey alongside Michael Duignan.[4]

Defending champions Limerick won the game by 0-30 to 2-15 to claim their four-in-a-row and their fifth title in six years.[5][6]

The match drew a peak audience of more than 1 million on RTÉ. The TV audience for The Sunday Game coverage peaked at 1,125,000 by the end of the final, the highest since 2019.[7]

Background

Paths to the final

Kilkenny

22 April 2023 Leinster round-robin Kilkenny 0-29 - 0-07 Westmeath Kilkenny
TJ Reid 0-9 (3fs, 2 65), Adrian Mullen 0-6, John Donnelly 0-4, Eoin Cody, Martin Keoghan 0-2 each, David Blanchfield, Padraig Walsh, Darragh Corcoran, Timmy Clifford, Billy Ryan, Niall Brennan 0-1 each. Ciaran Doyle 0-4 (3fs), Joseph Boyle, Darragh Clinton, Derek McNicholas 0-1 each. Stadium: UPMC Nowlan Park
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
30 April 2023 Leinster round-robin Kilkenny 0-28 - 1-25 Galway Kilkenny
TJ Reid 0-9 (8fs), Eoin Cody 0-6, Darragh Corcoran, Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan, and Martin Keoghan 0-2 each, Mikey Butler, Timmy Clifford, and David Blanchfield 0-1 each. Report Brian Concannon 1-5, Evan Niland 0-7 (6fs), Conor Whelan 0-2, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney, Cianan Fahy, Ronan Glennon, Cathal Mannion, Kevin Cooney, Conor Cooney, Jason Flynn, Liam Collins, and Declan McLoughlin 0-1 each. Stadium: UPMC Nowlan Park
Attendance: 11,550[12]
Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).
7 May 2023 Leinster round-robin Antrim 3-20 - 5-31 Kilkenny Belfast
Conal Cunning 0-8 (6 frees, 1 65), Keelan Molloy 1-2, Niall McKenna 0-4, Neil McManus 1-1, Conor Johnston 1-0, Paul Boyle 0-2, James McNaughton 0-2, Gerard Walsh 0-1. Report TJ Reid 2-10 (0-6 frees, 0-2 65s), Martin Keoghan 3-3, Billy Ryan 0-4, Adrian Mullen 0-2, Alan Murphy 0-3, Eoin Cody 0-2, Walter Walsh 0-2, Richie Reid 0-1, David Blanchfield 0-1, Tom Phelan 0-1, Cillian Buckley 0-1, Eoin Murphy 0-1 (free). Stadium: Corrigan Park
Referee: Shane Hayes (Galway).
20 May 2023 Leinster round-robin Kilkenny 0-27 - 0-21 Dublin Kilkenny
TJ Reid 0-10 (10fs), Paddy Deegan, Tom Phelan 0-3 each, Adrian Mullen, Martin Keoghan, Eoin Cody 0-2 each, Mikey Butler, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Billy Ryan, and Billy Drennan (f) 0-1 each. Donal Burke 0-10 (8fs), Danny Sutcliffe, Mark Grogan, Dara Purcell 0-2 each, Eoghan O’Donnell, Conor Donohoe, Daire Gray, Cian Boland, Sean Currie 0-1 each. Stadium: UPMC Nowlan Park
28 May 2023 Leinster round-robin Wexford 4-23 - 5-18 Kilkenny Wexford
Lee Chin 1-10 (0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Liam Óg McGovern 2-1, Kevin Foley 1-1, Rory O’Connor 0-4, Oisín Foley, Cathal Dunbar (one line-ball) 0-2 each, Conor McDonald, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Liam Ryan 0-1 each. Report Eoin Cody 3-1, Tom Phelan 1-4, TJ Reid 0-7 (4 frees, 1 ‘65), Martin Keoghan 1-0, Adrian Mullen, Walter Walsh, Billy Ryan, Pádraig Walsh, Alan Murphy, Conor Delaney 0-1 each. Stadium: Chadwicks Wexford Park
Attendance: 9,725
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).

Kilkenny finished second in the Leinster round-robin and so advanced to the Leinster Final.

11 June 2023 Leinster Final Kilkenny 4-21 - 2-26 Galway Dublin
TJ Reid 0-9 (6f), Walter Walsh 1-2, Mikey Butler 1-0, Martin Keoghan 1-0, Cillian Buckley 1-0, Eoin Cody 0-3, Cian Kenny 0-2, John Donnelly 0-2 David Blanchfield 0-1, Padraig Walsh 0-1, Billy Drennan 0-1 Report Evan Niland 0-12 (8f), Conor Whelan 1-6, Jason Flynn 1-0, Brian Concannon 0-3, Kevin Cooney 0-3, Cathal Mannion 0-1, Joseph Cooney 0-1 Stadium: Croke Park
Attendance: 24,483[13]
Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin)
Man of the match: Conor Whelan (Galway)

As Leinster champions, Kilkenny advanced to the All-Ireland semi-final.

9 July 2023 Kilkenny 1-25 (28) – (25) 1-22 Clare Dublin  
16:00 IST (UTC+01:00) (HT: 0-10 – 0-15) Venue: Croke Park
Report Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Attendance: 59,739[14]
TV: RTÉ 2


Limerick

23 April 2023 Munster round-robin Waterford 0-19 - 1-18 Limerick Thurles
Stephen Bennett 0-13 (10fs), Austin Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson 0-1 each. Report Aaron Gillane 0-7 (5fs), Seamus Flanagan 1-1, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-3 (0-2 frees), Peter Casey and Tom Morrissey 0-2 each, Barry Nash, Gearoid Hegarty, 0-1. Stadium: Semple Stadium
Attendance: 20,267[15]
29 April 2023 Munster round-robin Limerick 2-20 - 1-24 Clare Limerick
Aaron Gillane 0-7 (0-6 frees); Seamus Flanagan 2-1; Diarmaid Byrnes 0-5 (0-5 frees); Tom Morrissey 0-4 (0-1 free); Cathal O’Neill 0-2; Cian Lynch 0-1. Report Aidan McCarthy 0-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65); Tony Kelly 0-4; Peter Duggan 1-1, Mark Rodgers 0-3 (0-1 sideline); David McInerney, David Fitzgerald, Shane O’Donnell, Aron Shanagher 0-2 each; Ryan Taylor 0-1. Stadium: TUS Gaelic Grounds
Attendance: 30,460[16]
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
21 May 2023 Munster round-robin Tipperary 0-25 - 0-25 Limerick Thurles
Gearoid O’Connor 0-10 (9fs), Jake Morris 0-4, Mark Kehoe 0-3, Conor Bowe 0-3, Noel McGrath 0-2, Seamus Callanan, Rhys Shelly, John McGrath 0-1 each. Report Aaron Gillane 0-6 (3fs) Cathal O’Neill 0-5, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-4 (3fs), Tom Morrissey 0-4, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy 0-2 each, Peter Casey, Declan Hannon 0-1 each. Stadium: Semple Stadium
Attendance: 37,459[17]
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).
28 May 2023 Munster round-robin Limerick 3-25 - 1-30 Cork Limerick
Diarmaid Byrnes 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-1 ’65), Seamus Flanagan 1-3, Aaron Gillane 0-5 (0-2 frees), Cathal O’Neill 1-0, Gearoid Hegarty, Darragh O’Donovan 0-3 each, Tom Morrissey 0-2; Peter Casey, William O’Donoghue, Barry Nash, Declan Hannon, Barry Nash 0-1 each. Report Patrick Horgan 1-14 (0-11 frees), Darragh Fitzgibbon, Seamus Harnedy 0-4 each, Declan Dalton 0-3 (0-2 frees), Shane Kingston 0-2; Tim O’Mahony; Luke Meade, Rob Downey 0-1 each. Stadium: TUS Gaelic Grounds
Attendance: 40,847
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).

Limerick finished second in the Munster round-robin and so advanced to the Munster Final.

11 June 2023 Munster Final Clare 1-22 - 1-23 Limerick Limerick
T Kelly (0-6, 2 frees); M Rodgers (1-2); A McCarthy (0-4, 3 frees); S O’Donnell, D Fitzgerald, I Galvin (0-2 each); R Taylor, D Ryan, C Malone, A Shanagher (0-1 each). Report A Gillane (1-11, 0-8 frees); T Morrissey, D Reidy (0-3 each); C O’Neill (0-2); D O’Donovan, G Hegarty, K Hayes, A English (0-1 each). Stadium: TUS Gaelic Grounds
Attendance: 43,756[18]
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
Man of the Match: Aaron Gillane (Limerick)

As Munster champions, Limerick advanced to the All-Ireland semi-final.

8 July 2023 All-Ireland semi-final Limerick 2-24 (30) – (21) 1-18 Galway Dublin  
18:00 IST (UTC+01:00) Venue: Croke Park
Report Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
TV: RTÉ 2


Pre-match

Officials

On 13 July, the GAA named Wicklow's John Keenan as the referee for the final, his first All-Ireland final. He previously refereed the 2016 All-Ireland minor final, the 2018 All-Ireland Under-21 final, the 2019 Leinster hurling final and the 2022 Munster hurling final. His umpires were Tommy Redmond (Tinahely), Eddie Leonard (St Patrick’s), Paul Reville (Turin) and David Clune (Delvin). His linemen were Galway's Liam Gordon and Wexford's James Owens, with Gordon also the standby referee. The sideline official was Shane Hynes from Galway.[19]

Build-up

Both teams confirmed that they would return home to their respective counties straight after the match and not remain in Dublin overnight. Limerick would return to Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel and Spa in Adare while Kilkenny would go to the River Court Hotel in Kilkenny. [20]

The final was shown on a big screen on Pery Square in Limerick where an all ticket crowd watched the match.[21]

Jubilee teams

The Offaly team that won the 1998 All-Ireland Final was presented to the crowd before the match.[22]

Match

Summary

Paddy Deegan opened the scoring for Kilkenny in the opening minute of the game, a lead which was held for a further five minutes before Limerick could equalise through Cian Lynch, this would be the be the only time the sides were level until deep into the second half. Limerick would for a brief moment, take the lead of the game when Diarmaid Byrnes knocked over Limerick's second point of the afternoon. However, Limerick's bright start was negated when, in the 10th minute, Eoin Cody picked up a loose ball in the Limerick box, and tucked it low into the bottom-right of the Limerick net, giving Kilkenny a two point advantage. By the 14th minute, two of Limerick's half-back line, William O'Donoghue and Diarmaid Byrnes received yellow cards for foul play. Kilkenny would go on to dominate much of the first half proceedings, leading by as much as six points by the 27th minute. At the end of the first half, Kilkenny led by three points on a 1-09 to 0-09 scoreline.

Limerick started the second half intensely, rejuvenating their hopes of a fourth successive championship, bringing the scores to within a point by the 40th minute. Yet the afternoon was about to take another turn when a piece of individual brilliance saw Deegan scored a goal for Kilkenny, breaking the right side-netting of the Limerick goal. This saw Kilkenny extend their lead to five points in the 42nd minute. Limerick would bravely respond to this turn of events, aggressively seeking possession and scoring five successive points to bring the scores level for only the second time in the contest with 13 minutes remaining in normal time. From this point onwards, Limerick took control of proceedings, taking the lead for the first time since the sixth minute, when Darragh O'Donovan made it 0-18 to 2-11 in the 58th minute. In total, Limerick outscored Kilkenny 0-21 to 1-06 in the second half, completing a stellar comeback and running out comfortable winners. The game finished Kilkenny 2-15 (21 points), Limerick 0-30 (30 points). This fourth consecutive championship meant Limerick became only the third county, since the competition began in 1887, to win four All-Ireland hurling titles in a row.[23][24][25]

While David Blanchfield was named on the Kilkenny squad to start at right wing back, he was unable to due to injury. Walter Walsh started in the position instead wearing the number 24 jersey. While starting in the half back line, Walsh operated across the half forward line, with Conor Fogarty dropping back to cover the number 5 position, and John Donnelly occupying the midfield area.

Details

23 July 2023
15:30 IST (UTC+01:00)
Final
Limerick 0-30 (30) – (21) 2-15 Kilkenny
(HT: 0-09 (9) – (12) 1-09)

Pts: Diarmaid Byrnes 8 (7f), Peter Casey 5, Aaron Gillane 5 (3f), Cian Lynch 2, Gearóid Hegarty 2, David Reidy 2, Cathal O'Neill 2, Barry Nash 1, Kyle Hayes 1, Darragh O'Donovan 1, Tom Morrissey 1		 Gls: Paddy Deegan 1, Eoin Cody 1
Pts: TJ Reid 7 (6f, 1 '65), Paddy Deegan 1, Tom Phelan 3, Eoin Murphy 1 (1f), Richie Reid 1, John Donnelly 1, Adrian Mullen 1
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
Attendance: 82,300[26]
Limerick
Kilkenny

Trophy presentation

Stand-in captain Cian Lynch accepted the Liam MacCarthy Cup from GAA president Larry McCarthy in the Hogan Stand alongside the injured Declan Hannon.[27]

Reaction

Diarmaid Byrnes speaking to RTÉ after the match said "it needed a big half-time talk" to inspire Limerick's second period demolition of Kilkenny.[28]

Limerick manager John Kiely credited his team for both their resolve and their ability to stick to the process in the white heat of battle.[29]

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng speaking to RTÉ after the match admitted Limerick were relentless in the way they ground down his side as the 70 minutes elapsed.[30]

Highlights of the final were shown on The Sunday Game programme which aired at 9:30pm that night on RTÉ2 and was presented by Jacqui Hurley.[31]

Celebrations

The Limerick team returned home straight after the final where a private event was held at the Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.[32] An estimated 20,000 people turned out to welcome home the team at a public homecoming event at Pery Square in the city centre from 5pm the next day, where a list of live acts and music entertained the crowds in advance of the teams appearance.[33][34][35]

References

  1. ↑ Whooley, Declan (23 July 2023). "All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final: All you need to know". RTÉ News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "League finals retained as 2023 calendar takes shape". 24 September 2022 – via www.rte.ie.
  3. ↑ "Allianz League finals retained while All-Ireland SFC extended by one week - HoganStand". hoganstand.com.
  4. ↑ Diallo, Raf (23 July 2023). "All-Ireland hurling final recap: Limerick beat Kilkenny to seal four-in-a-row". RTÉ News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  5. ↑ McGoldrick, Sean (23 July 2023). "Four in-a-row glory for Limerick as Treaty take down Kilkenny with devastating All-Ireland final blitz". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Ryan, Eoin (23 July 2023). "Leaders drive Limerick past Kilkenny to four in a row". RTÉ News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Over 1 million watch Limerick's four-in-a-row success". RTÉ News. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Limerick keep All-Ireland four in-a-row dream alive after semi-final surge blows Galway away". Independent.ie. 8 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Richard (11 July 2014). "Ring's 1944 goal opened door to four-in-a-row". Irish Examiner.
  10. ↑ "GAA preview: All-Ireland Hurling final and Camogie quarter-finals". BreakingNews.ie. 13 July 2022.
  11. ↑ Connacht, JoeNa (15 July 2022). "Kilkenny v Limerick - Stats, Facts to know, Betting and Team News". SportsNewsIreland.
  12. ↑ "Declan McLoughlin denies Cats at death as Galway snatch draw". RTE. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Leinster SHC final: Kilkenny 4-21 Galway 2-26". Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "Limerick 2-24 Galway 1-18: Holders stay on course for four in a row by subduing Tribesmen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Waterford give 14-man Limerick an almighty fright in Munster opener". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. ↑ "Clare give the summer new life as they hand Limerick their first defeat in four years". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  17. ↑ "Honours even as Tipp and Limerick play out another Munster classic". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "LIVE Munster hurling final: Limerick v Clare". Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "John Keenan appointed as referee for All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Independent. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "No post-game banquet for Kilkenny or Limerick in the capital after All-Ireland hurling final". RTE Sport. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "All Ireland Big Screen event in Limerick City Centre". Limerick.ie. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Advice for supporters attending the All-Ireland SHC Final". GAA.ie. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  23. ↑ Fogarty, John (23 July 2023). "Magnificent Limerick ignite in second half to make history". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  24. ↑ Cox, James (23 July 2023). "Limerick come back to beat Kilkenny and win fourth All-Ireland in a row". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  25. ↑ O'Connell, Cian (23 July 2023). "All-Ireland SHC Final: Limerick produce stunning second half display to retain title". GAA.ie. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Limerick secure legendary status with masterful second half performance". Pundit Arena. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Treaty men tame Cats with scorching second-half display for fourth successive All-Ireland crown". Hogan Stand. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  28. ↑ "'Big half-time talk' inspired Limerick - Diarmaid Byrnes". RTÉ Sport. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  29. ↑ "John Kiely hails Limerick players' icy resolve in second-half surge". RTÉ Sport. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  30. ↑ The Sunday Game [@TheSundayGame] (23 July 2023). "'They just get a run on you'. Derek Lyng's team could find no response once Limerick found their stride in second half" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Twitter.
  31. ↑ "SPORT ON RTÉ ONE & RTÉ2 Week 30". RTÉ.ie. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  32. ↑ Gleeson, Brendan (24 July 2023). "In Pictures: Celebrations at Limerick hotel as hurlers return home following All-Ireland success". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  33. ↑ Halloran, Cathy (24 July 2023). "Treaty City celebrates as Liam returns to Limerick". RTÉ News. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  34. ↑ Dorgan, Faye; Linehan, Rebecca (24 July 2023). "Jubilant scenes in Limerick as 20,000 welcome home the All-Ireland champions". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  35. ↑ "Limerick Hurlers Homecoming 2023". Limerick.ie. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
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