Aaron Gillane makes history as he becomes Limerick’s record championship scorer

The Patrickswell man delivered in style for his county on Sunday in helping Limerick to a third successive All-Ireland final.

Aaron Gillane etched his name into the history books over the weekend as he became Limerick’s record scorer in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.

The Patrickswell native overtook his former teammate Shane Dowling as he moved to 11-193 (226) overall, a point ahead of the Na Piarsaigh man (13-186).

Gillane notched 0-8 at the weekend with six of that coming from play, five of those in the first half as he tormented the Galway rearguard.

Gillane was awarded the Sky Sports man of the match gong in the wake of the contest as he once more top scored for Limerick, with just two of his total coming from placed balls as he was made to work for all his scores.

But the Patrickswell native made it look easy despite being tasked with five-time All-Star Daithi Burke.

His scoring exploits over the weekend took him into 19th place in the overall charts as he now sets his sights on the top-15 which is only 26 points away.

It seems foolish to suggest that Gillane will reach that tally with only one game left in this years’ championship, that being the All-Ireland final but it is hard to imagine he will not breach it in the Munster championship next year.

However, Eoin Kelly (229) and Jimmy Doyle (230) are well within his reach ahead of the July 17 meeting with Kilkenny where four points would put him at 17th in the overall ranks.

As Limerick’s main free taker since his breakout year in 2018, Gillane has been near flawless from placed balls with the bulk of his scores coming from frees.

However, he has not neglected his duties in open play and has clipped over 9-62 from play in just 28 games at nearly three points a game from play.

His overall mark is 8.1 points per game the fifth best of all time behind Donal Burke (9.8), Joe Canning (9.3), Eddie Keher (8.8) and Patrick Horgan (8.2).

However, he is still a way off Canning (567) and Horgan (582) who occupy the top spots.

Gillane is currently seventh in this year’s scoring charts with his tally of 3-40 (22f). TJ Reid is level at the top with Lee Chin as they both sit on 62 points from seven games.

As such it is hard to see past Reid claiming the overall scoring title this year with the Ballyhale Shamrocks man 4th in the overall ranks, 30 points behind Horgan.

Nonetheless, 2022 has been a year to remember for Gillane who has not only been in blistering form, named to the Team of the Week four times, but also surpassed some Limerick legends in becoming the county’s all-time top scorer.

The list of names include Eamonn Cregan (32nd), Mick Mackey (30th), Gary Kirby (29th) and Dowling (20th) as he entered the top-25 after the Tipperary contest in Munster in May.