Limerick join the true greats of senior inter-county hurling as they claim the four-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles with a comeback victory over Kilkenny at Croke Park.
Just Cork, in the 1940s, and Kilkenny, from 2006-09, have managed it before. How long before we can talk of doing the historic five in a row?
For now though, let's see who the stars were on a wet and windy afternoon in Dublin.
LIMERICK
Nickie Quaid - 6
Dealt with any high ball ball that came his way and could do very little about the two goals that flashed by him.
Mike Casey - 6
Stronger in the second half as Limerick began to really put their mark on the game.
Dan Morrissey - 6
Made a brilliant pick up on a loose ball on 47 minutes as Kilkenny went in search of a third goal. Was part of a full back line that was having to deal with less and less as the game wore on.
Barry Nash - 6
He was slightly unlucky to be pinged for overcarrying after showing fantastic strength to ride challenges as he attempted to retrieve his hurl off the turf.
Contributed a point after a well worked Limerick move on 44 minutes.
Diarmaid Byrnes - 8
His point on seven minutes had Limerick ahead for the first time in the game. He was booked in the 16th minute for a high hit on Mikey Butler, but continued to land the long range frees. His best score, on a busy afternoon when he contributed eight points, was one from his own half-back line as he pushed the gap out to three with 15 minutes to play.
At the other end, got in a critical hook on Tom Phelan as he raced towards goal just after half time.
Will O'Donoghue - 6
Set the tone with a firm challenge on Tom Phelan on six minutes but pushed it too far, being booked for late hit on Adrian Mullen a few minutes later. Set up Cian Lynch for Limerick's first score of the game.
Kyle Hayes - 7
A brilliant diagonal ball set up a Limerick score on 19 minutes. Pushed his team four clear just after the hour mark before blocking Eoin Cody to set up an attack which pushed the gap out to five moments later.
Darragh O'Donovan - 6
A solid afternoon in the middle of the park. Pushed Limerick ahead in the second half, with just under 20 minutes to play.
Had gifted Kilkenny their opening score following a poorly hit sideline cut.
Cian Lynch - 7
Scored Limerick's first point in the fifth minute after a fine move. Quick hands to collect and slot a ball over the bar after a handpass by Gillane on 33 minutes - second score for Lim in a minute.
Gearoid Hegarty - 7
Had a relatively quiet first half, a brilliant catch on 35 minutes aside, but came into the game more after the break.
Slotted over a couple of fine points from play, including an almost offensively nonchalant point from midfield on 45 minutes.
David Reidy - 7
Slotted over a nice score just before the break to cut the gap.
In different circumstances, as Limerick began to pull away towards the end of the second half, chipped over another score.
Made a critical, if not entirely legal, intervention to deny Alan Murphy a near certain goal on 70 minutes.
Tom Morrissey - 5
He lasted 55 minutes on one of his more quiet afternoons in green. Still managed to split the posts with a fine score just before the break but was guilty of failing to get back to cover for the second Kilkenny goal as Paddy Deegan drifted in behind to score.
Aaron Gillane - 7
Was more effective in the first half as he kept the scoreboard ticking over. He hit his first point on 12 minutes, which was also their first after Kilkenny's opening goal. A free on 32 minutes, which he slotted, brought a scoreless 12 minute period to an end for Limerick.
Seamus Flanagan - 5
Hit a very poor wide just after the restart as both sides made nervy starts to the second half. He was replaced by Graeme Mulcahy just after the hour mark.
Peter Casey - 8
Scored five brilliant points when the fat was in the fire in the second half, including a sensational point from under the Cusack Stand on 48 minutes and another from the other side on the hour mark.
Subs
Cathal O'Neill - 6
Scored a point after a mazy run on the left wing on 64 minutes before landing the last score of the afternoon.
Graeme Mulcahy - 6
Conor Boylan - N/A
Adam English - N/A
Aaron Costello - N/A
KILKENNY
Eoin Murphy - 6
Had little to do in the way of saving chances but did land a long-distance free, from his own half, in the first half.
He had to be alert to hold onto a dropping effort from Peter Casey on the hour.
Mikey Butler - 6
Was less effective in stifling the Limerick attackers as they upped the ante after the break.
Huw Lawlor - 6
A brilliant take on 52 minutes as Limerick went in search of the goal their then dominance deserved. Was under huge pressure in the second half.
Tommy Walsh - 6
Made one outstanding run forward on 22 minutes to take the pressure off as Limerick supporters cried foul over some off the ball stuff. As with his fellow members of the full-back line, was under more pressure after the break.
Walter Walsh - 5
Was brought into the team as a late change for David Blanchfield and engineered a scoring chance on 18 minutes, after beating two Limerick defenders, only to push the shot wide. Had another wide at the start of the second half and was replaced by Alan Murphy on 48 minutes.
Richie Reid - 6
Picked up a loose ball on 27 minutes and smashed it over to push Kilkenny five clear for the first time in the game but he was more quiet after the break.
Paddy Deegan - 6
Scored Kilkenny's first point of the game and smashed home their second after managing to free himself of cover down the left channel.
Conor Fogarty - 5
Although Kilkenny took a lead into the break, Fogarty didn't make it out for the second half as Derek Lyng elected to change things up.
Adrian Mullen - 5
Not a game for the scrapbook for the Ballyhale man although he did chip in with a score on the hour mark as Kilkenny looked to stem the green tide.
Tom Phelan - 7
One of Kilkenny's standout players on a disappointing afternoon at Croke Park.
Added a point early on, moments after the Cats' first goal, to really stretch out their lead. After being caught out twice in possession in the opening five minutes of the second half he scored a great point on 40 minutes.
Played a critical role in Kilkenny's second goal, ducking and diving past three or four challenges, before setting up Deegan.
Martin Keoghan - 5
On a quiet day the closest he came to a score was just before half time as a shot for goal hit the post.
John Donnelly - 5
He was lucky to escape a yellow for a huge hit on Darragh O'Donovan in the second half but popped up with a fine score from play just before the hour mark.
Billy Ryan - 5
Another Kilkenny starting forward who failed to get his name on the scoresheet. He was replaced by Cian Kenny with 15 minutes to go.
TJ Reid - 7
The 35-year-old showed he's not just about the placed balls as he claimed a superb high ball in the 23rd minute, and drew a free which he then converted.
After Limerick had hit three quick scores, he uncharacteristically sent one scoreable one wide just before half time. Kilkenny became ever more reliant on him as they were overrun by the four-in-a-row chasing Treaty City men.
A late ball over the top for an Alan Murphy goal chance reminded everyone of just how dangerous he can be.
Eoin Cody - 6
Smashed home the first Kilkenny goal with aplomb. A brilliant run on 26 minutes saw him have to carry the ball away from goal, before he turned a couple of men, hopped the ball off the turf, and was fouled.
Flashed a goal effort, from a very narrow angle, wide on 33 minutes and was more quiet after the break.
Subs
Pádraig Walsh - 5
Alan Murphy - 5
Cian Kenny - N/A
Cillian Buckley - N/A
Richie Hogan - N/A
