After almost half a century of a wait, Liam is heading to Limerick.
In the words of full-forward Shane Dowling, "It's all I've ever wanted since I was a young fella, I don't know how many prayers I said!"
What a moment in the Gaelic Grounds as final whistle comes down on #LIMvGAL 💚💚💚.@Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/rIUIWnjvoB
— Jess Casey (@Jess_JCasey) August 19, 2018
The county player scored one of three goals for the team, leading them to a narrow one point (3-16 to 2-18) victory over Galway.
Often referred to as the "bridesmaids of Irish hurling" this win is the eight All-Ireland success for the county. The McCarthy cup will now be paraded back to Limerick for the first time since 1973.
As the final whistle blew, elated fans took to the Croke Park pitch and there was simply no stopping them. Tugging on heart strings even further, the voice of recently-deceased Limerick-native Dolores O'Riordan rang out as their victory sunk in.
A proud and excited Limerick team parade Liam McCarthy around @CrokePark #GALVLIM pic.twitter.com/FiJsgQy6Nf
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) August 19, 2018
An emotional @CrokePark as we hear the late, great Dolores O’Riordan across the speakers as Limerick win their 1st All Ireland in 45 years. #GALVLIM pic.twitter.com/5WETji9ebt
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) August 19, 2018
Home for the match! 98 year old John Hunt, founder of the Limerick club in Chicago, was there when Limerick won the All-Ireland in 1940, and he'll be there tomorrow, 78 years later. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/eGbReP4IPG
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 17, 2018
Some limerick fans broke past stewards and are on the pitch congratulating their hero’s. Let them on altogether
— Colm Parkinson (@Woolberto) August 19, 2018
There won’t be a baked ham milked in Limerick for weeks #limerickvgalway
— Bernard O'Shea (@boshea5) August 19, 2018
Limerick are All-Ireland Hurling Champions for 2018! pic.twitter.com/D8FQR2gMYl
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 19, 2018
Gwan Limerick. Fair play, that’s some win
— Rubber Bandits (@Rubberbandits) August 19, 2018
DREAMS. IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE. How could you not be thrilled for Limerick! A cliffhanger! All Ireland champions for the first time in many people’s lifetimes. 💚
— John Duggan (@JohnDugganSport) August 19, 2018
Delighted for Limerick. Great people for getting behind their teams. Incredible scenes. Good luck trying to analyse that game!
— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) August 19, 2018
Well done to #Limerick. So sweet a victory after so many years. Great day for hurling. Glad #Galway not going home empty handed. #AllIreland
— Leo Varadkar (@campaignforleo) August 19, 2018
Here are the men of the match:
Galway; J Skehill; A Touhey, Dáithí Burke, J Hanbury; P Mannion (0-1), G McInerney, A Harte; J Coen, David Burke (0-3); J Cooney (0-3), J Canning (1-10, 1-0 free, 5f, 2 65) J Glynn; C Whelan (1-0), C Cooney, C Mannion Subs: N Burke (0-1) for C Mannion 45m; P Killeen for Hanbury 56m; J Flynn for Conor Cooney 58m; S Loftus for Coen 60m; F Flannery for Skehill (injured) 60m
Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, M Casey, R English D Byrnes (0-1), D Hannon (0-2), D Morrissey; D O'Donovan (0-1), C Lynch (0-1); G Hegarty, K Hayes (0-4), T Morrissey (1-1); A Gillane (0-3, 2f), S Flanagan (0-1), G Mulachy (1-2). Subs: R McCarthy for Casey 49m; S Dowling (1-0) for Hegarty 55m; P Casey for Flanagan 63m; W O'Donoghue for O'Donovan 66m; T Condon for English 73m