There is certainly a different feel to this Limerick All-Ireland final victory.
Two years ago, the Treaty men edged past Cork in an All-Ireland semi-final where extra-time was required. In the decider against Galway, a point was all they had to spare when the final whistle blew.
It mattered little how they did it, a 45-year All-Ireland drought came to an end and the outpouring of emotion lasted for weeks and months.
The unique championship of 2020 ends with Limerick again as top dogs, but they they look a cut above the chasing pack.
Without ever hitting top gear Munster was annexed, while the semi-final win over Galway was solid if not spectacular.
John Kiely's men saved the best til last and dominated Waterford in the showpiece from start to finish. The margin at the end was 11 points, but even when there was just a goal in it at the break, it was frees that was mainly keeping the Deise in the game, and at times they were simply chasing shadows.
It was an exhibition of hurling and Kiely seemed to agree.
"It’s just incredible, unbelievable. The second time in three years. It’s just an amazing achievement," he told RTÉ Sport.
"It took so long to win the one in 2018, you know you are so lucky to be there at the time, and we knew after that it might take us a good number of years to get back here again, but we’re back.
"We took our chance and it is all about taking your opportunities and we took them."
A tenth win in 10 competitive games in 2020 was achieved by a half-forward line on song – man of the match Gearoid Hegarty (0-07) and Tom Morrissey (0-05) hit 12 points from play between them - Aaron Gillane and Seamus Flanagan gave Waterford the run around, while Kyle Hayes, Diarmuid Byrnes and Sean Finn shone in a defensive effort that was more about the collective effort than individual talent.
"I was so proud of the way they worked. We came into this game knowing we had to be ruthless and clinical in our work-rate," Kiely said.
"We were resolute in defence and we always had somebody back there that was going to cut it out, hold it up. Our tackling was fantastic, our intensity through the roof and when we were going forward we were very composed on the ball."
The Limerick manager said it was especially pleasing to see how his team managed coped with the favourites tag all year - "it is a bit of a burden, but it’s how we carried it" - and also paid tribute to the supporters who could not be part of the day at Croke Park.
John Kiely dedicates Limerick's victory to the county's people and says they will have a proper celebration in 2021. pic.twitter.com/b3Cm0foLQi
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) December 13, 2020
"Everybody in Limerick, we are thinking about you right now. We wish you were here, but they can’t and that’s just the way it is. We got the championship played and what an achievement that was. What an achievement by the GAA to get it played.
"We will have an opportunity after Christmas, please God, to celebrate this together as a county, with all our families, with all our friends, with all our club-mates, with all our schools.
"Right now, we just ask people to stay at home tonight. Enjoy it, soak it up. It means so, so much to the people of Limerick.
"We need everybody to be there when we do come back with the cup when the vaccine has been rolled out and we get everybody into the Gaelic Grounds and we will have one hell of a party."
