GAA
And as he did for Limerick so often in their historic four in a row, Aaron Gillane was the man for the big moment with a goal steeped in pure genius.
The weather didn’t help the standard of hurling but the intensity had ratcheted up with Patrickswell and the defending champions Na Piarsaigh both eager to lay down a statement of intent to open up the Limerick SHC.
Both sides were without front-line players but each had a trio of All-Ireland winners from the start as the clock ticked into the final quarter of an hour in Claughaun.
With the scores deadlocked at 1-12 apiece, the game was there for the taking.
And as he did for Limerick so often in their historic four in a row, Aaron Gillane was the man for the big moment with a goal made of pure genius.
As was the case for much of the second half, with the Well needing an outball, Jason Gillane in the nets looked for his big brother out on the right wing.
The elder Gillane duly obliged by winning possession clean (although it’s unclear how exactly he caught it), landing facing the goal and taking off towards Shane Dowling’s net.
He laid it off to Calvin Carroll, who raised the first green flag, before receiving it back 20 years from goal.
Faced with Limerick team-mate Mike Casey, Gillane swivelled onto his stronger left side and shot a bullet into the top right corner, leaving Dowling with little chance.
A goal, a three point cushion and the winning of the game for Patrickswell.
It brought his tally to 1-6 and he would add another white flag down the stretch as the Well claimed a two-point victory.
A moment of magic and another to add to the collection for the Hurler of the Year elect.
Next up for the Well is Doon this Thursday and with the East Limerick men down a number of first choice defenders, Gillane will sense another opportunity to show why he is the form hurler in the country.
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