Kilkenny overcame Limerick by 2-19 to 1-15 with a stunning display of power hurling, smothering the Treaty men in the forwards and ruthlessly dominating between the 45s.
Kilkenny v Limerick player ratings:
KILKENNY:
1 PJ Ryan 7 Caught Geary’s bombs early on and pucked out long or clever as the situation called for it. Not much chance for Moran’s goal, and must be given credit for returning so well and confidently from a recent broken arm.
2 Michael Kavanagh 7 Key cog in the Kilkenny machine, which was incredibly effective at denying the Limerick forwards space inside for long stretches. The consensus was that Limerick needed goals to win this final and the Cats set out make sure it didn’t happen. Bar Moran's sole breakthrough, they succeeded.
3 Noel Hickey 7 Pulled a hamstring when chasing Fitzgerald after starting very well. Most unfortunate for the dependable full-back and a sad end to a brilliant year. Had looked like having a big game up until then, and must be credited with setting the tone in the full-back line.
John Tennyson 8 replaced Hickey after 23 minutes resulting in a re-shuffle in which he moved to centre-back and played tremendously, clearing long and accurately and brilliantly catching ball over his head on several occassions.
4 Jackie Tyrrell 7 Carried and caught in the early exchanges, and was a key man in demoralising the Limerick forwards in the first 20. Later, he put in some mighty strikes to get Limerick on the back foot again when a renaissance might have been on the cards. Also had a great block on O‘Shaugnessy’s kicked goal effort.
5 Tommy Walsh 9 Great catching and striking as usual, including one exceptional whirling clearance from under his own posts. Distributed well and was inspirational in defence, and also got two points at important times for the Cats when roaming out the field. Always popped up when others might have been starting to doubt a small bit and along with Brennan a main Man of the Match contender.
6 Brian Hogan 6 Went in to full-back when Hickey went off; his man Begley broke the ball for the Moran goal, but was generally kept quiet and Hogan, who might have preferred to stay in where had started, did well despite the positional switch.
7 J J Delaney 6 Saved O’Shaughnessy’s other late goal effort - this one from a bold shot from a 20 metre free - and kept Limerick’s key forward men quiet; the entire Cats' half-forward line were phenomenal at denying breathing space to the Limerick men, dominating all along the ‘45 and further out.
8 Derek Lyng 7 Dominated the Limerick pair along with Fitzpatrick. Between them they were Kilkenny’s key advantage when the Cats were on top; which was most of the time.
9 James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick 7 A yellow card early in the first half and a miss early in the second – not vintage by any means, but a nice point from the ’45 was just reward for his efforts. Drove the ball in for Brennan's opener and was also the provider for Shefflin's goal.
10 Eddie Brennan 9 Got the first goal – possibly while overstepping – and could have had another but for Lucey’s block, which deflected his strike over the bar. Brilliant catching and running made him a leading contender for Man of the Match, although two incidents involving loose elbows mightn’t help. In any case, great running and pointing added to the early goal were testament to his mental strength; notable how his scores came when Kilkenny really needed them.
11 Henry Shefflin (c) 8 Knocked over his frees and treated Croke Park to a brilliant finish in taking his goal – no question of a rules infringement for that one – showing strength and class to throw the ball up and knock it past Murray in the Limerick goal while under pressure from Lucey.
Brilliant skill for his second point – a classy flick followed by a sure strike. Unfortunately Shefflin, like Hickey, got into injury trouble late in the first half; a cruciate, one of the worst injuries you can get - felled the multiple All Star and he was taken off. That he spoke so well on the steps of the Hogan stand after suffering what is an awful injury is more credit to him.
Michael Fennelly 6 replaced Shefflin at half-time and Limerick began to get more joy around the middle, but Fennelly cleared ball and worked willingly in trying to fill the boots of ‘King Henry’.
12 Eoin Larkin 8 Four points inside 30 minutes had Larkin looking as though he would be Kilkenny’s key man in the forward line. Poor pass when a goal was on and miss early in the second indicated the magic might have slipped away – but he had played a big part by then.
13 Willie O'Dwyer 4 Was replaced by Richie Power after failing to make an impact in the first 20 minutes or so. It was ruthless stuff from manager Brian Cody, although Power must have been very close to starting the match.
Richie Power 6 Also struggled to impact on the game but took over the free duties and knocked what was needed over. Finally got one from play to re-establish a six point gap with 10 to go, but also hit some late wides.
14 Martin Comerford 4 No real impact first half as Brennan, Larkin and Shefflin made hay and couldn’t score even as the match ebbed away from Limerick. This win was all about the half-forwards.
15 Aidan Fogarty 5 Couldn’t match his heroics of last year when he was Man of the Match; making bad decisions and having his touch let him down in the first half. Finally got on the board with a point just after 50 minutes but was quiet throughout.
LIMERICK:
1 Brian Murray 6 Not to blame for the goals and not really his fault that Limerick couldn’t win any primary possession from the puck outs. Didn’t really get a chance to shine, but didn't do anything wrong either.
2 Damien Reale (c) 5 Couldn’t sweep up as he usually does with Kilkenny so sure in possession and quick to score. He struggled to make telling interventions in a match that ultimately just didn’t suit.
3 Stephen Lucey 5 Battled hard under the incredible stress but couldn’t stem the tide. Dispiriting for him and his colleagues to have so much ball come in on top of them and they were over-whelmed at vital stages in the match.
4 Seamus Hickey 6 Fantastic block made a goal-bound Eddie Brennan strike into a point. Injured straight afterwards – a Brennan elbow doing the damage - but got up to struggle on manfully. Brilliant catch early in the second as Limerick refused to lie down and take their beating and emerges with a lot of credit from the match.
5 Peter Lawlor 5 Played well but, as with much of the Limerick defence, couldn’t prevent Kilkenny from knocking over easy scores – Larkin’s four points can’t all be laid at his door, but he was marking the Cats' key first half marksman. Sad injury late in the day epitomised a tough day for Limerick.
Replaced by Mark O’Riordan with minutes to go.
6 Brian Geary 4 Poor start for the centre-back who has been a 
key player all season – even though he often supplied it, the failure of the long ball tactic can’t all e blamed on him. But he got an early early yellow, missed frees and struck the ball below his usual standard. Also couldn’t manage the clever blocking and hooking that have been a trademark in earlier games. A great year, but a disappointing end to it.
7 Mark Foley 8 Rallied Limerick when they looked like being overrun and kept on putting out the fires bravely and with no little skill as the waves of Kilkenny attacks continued. Excellent performance from a man in the twilight of his career and was the best back in the losing side.
8 Donal O'Grady 6 Knocked over a very good point when Limerick looked like being overrun, helping to keep the dream alive. Otherwise kept quiet in the first half. Got another point but aside from the two scoring interventions couldn’t impact on the match in terms of winning primary possession against the Kilkenny midfield pair.
9 Mike O'Brien 4 Couldn’t cope with the Kilkenny athleticism and speed in the centre-field, meaning his heart and bravery never came to the fore. Just couldn’t get into it and was taken off after the first half.
Replaced by Niall Moran 6 Started the second half with a brilliant point from midfield and a clever handpass set up another score.
10 Mike Fitzgerald 5 Good score from Ryan’s handpass but attempts to break through to support Begley and others close to goal were stymied by the Kilkenny blanket defence.
Replaced by Pat Tobin 5 who won a free for O’Shaughnessy to point soon after entering the fray.
11 Ollie Moran 8 Missed an easy chance early but then was inspirational as Limerick rallied and each of his three points in the first half was vital to keeping his side alive. None were simple and all were badly needed. One after a long carry under the Hogan Stand was of a particularly high quality.
When the Begley tactic finally paid off, Moran was the man to benefit: brilliant goal lifting Limerick again, bringing the gap to six just after Kilkenny had gone nine clear. All in all heroic, as he has been all year.
12 Seánie O'Connor 5 Knocked over Limerick’s third point, as he and a few others tried to resuscitate their hopes, but struggled like his colleagues with the Kilkenny back six juggernaut.
Replaced by James O’Brien late in the game.
13 Andrew O'Shaughnessy 5 Missed his first free – which might have steadied Limerick – before knocking most of his regulation efforts over for the rest of the match. Nullified for the most part, but to his credit got efforts on goal as the hope faded and on another day might have been a hero. Limerick needed their key forward to do better earlier in the match though.
14 Brian Begley 5 Long ball tactic depends on the big man 
playing well but he couldn’t often get under the high ones and tended to spill them to a Kilkenny back when he did; Limerick sprayed oodles of ball over the end line although to be fair, they weren’t all his fault.
High ball finally worked for Moran’s goal, when he broke the ball to the heroic half-forward, but it had cost Limerick dearly in wides and easy Kilkenny clearances by then.
15 Donie Ryan 5 Try as he did, attempts to get his chaotic brand of hurling going were easily countered by the class of the Kilkenny men, who were able to smother him. Went out to be a third midfielder but couldn’t make an impact there either, although did manage a nice handpass for Fitzgerald's point.
Replaced by Kevin Tobin as the hour mark approached.
Ratings by Brendan Cole
