It is a game that has been described as the best in any sport anywhere in the world this year, and it took place at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Wednesday night.
Limerick and Cork went head-to-head in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling final, and after 80 minutes of incredible action, including an intensely dramatic extra-time, the Treaty came out on top on a scoreline of 4-20 to 1-27.
Aidan Walsh, a winner of an All-Ireland football medal and Young Footballer of the Year in 2010, claimed the Man of the Match award on the night despite being on the losing side.
Walsh scored eight points, including a sensational long-range point which forced the game to extra-time, slinging the sliotar over the bar from miles out the field to make it 1-20 to 3-14 at the end of 60 minutes’ play.
Graeme Mulcahy put Limerick a goal in front inside the first minute and although Cork hit back to go into the break in front, two early second half goals from the home side, from Mulcahy and Seanie O’Brien, saw them regain the lead again.
Luke O’Farrell hit the net 12 minutes from the end to bring Cork back into it and late points from Jamie Coughlan and Walsh forced a breathless game into extra-time, much to the delight of the travelling Cork supporters and the large armchair audience tuning in on TG4 for the making of a classic.
Coughlan hit Cork into what looked a decisive three-point lead in extra-time (1-26 to 3-17) but Limerick responded in incredible fashion, Mulcahy setting up Declan Hannon for the decisive goal which turned the match eventually, inexorably in their favour.
If you want to get a better idea of just how good this game was, we’ve unearthed a 15-minute highlights video here – and it’s well, well worth watching.
