Dublin send Limerick out in huge upset

Dublin 2-24
Limerick 0-28

By Tom Clancy at Croke Park

Fourteen-man Dublin caused one of the greatest shocks in modern hurling when defeating Limerick and knocking the Shannonsiders out of the Championship.

It truly was an afternoon to forget for John Kiely’s men, who didn’t get near the level that they have displayed consistently for so long.

In the end, the result is something that Limerick will have to grin-and-bear but it ends a disappointing 2025, with Limerick now onlookers as Tipperary, Kilkenny, Cork and the Dubs battle for silverware.

Huge favourites, John Kiely’s men were ruthlessly punished by two Dublin goals in the third quarter as their own pursuit of green flags fell short. Gillane denied at one end, after the Dubs had bagged two in just sixty seconds.

Chris Crummey’s red card, after 15 minutes, was for a shoulder to get head of Gearoid Hegarty. But despite holding a two-point lead at this time, Limerick lost the remainder of the contest and fell to a most improbable defeat.

Scoring contriutions from Adam English, Aidan O’Connor and Gillane had Limerick ahead 0-19 to 0-18 but the sting came from John Hetherton and then a second in just sixty seconds from Cian O’Sullivan.

Goals win games. Try as they might, Gillane, Peter Casey and then Diarmaid Byrnes were all denied, and their hopes of another All-Ireland title fell in Drumcondra.

What next? The Club Championships are now five weeks away, in hurling, with football to commence before that.

John Kiely has another season agreed, since last Autumn, and will likely take time to reflect and plan for 2026.


Dublin: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, C McHugh; P Doyle, C Crummey (capt) (0-1), A Dunphy; C Burke (0-5), B Hayes (0-2); R McBride (0-2), F Whitley (0-1); C O’Sullivan (1-1); S Currie (0-9; 0-5f), R Hayes (0-3), D Ó Dúlaing.

Subs: J Hetherton (1-0) for Ó Dúlaing (half-time); D Power for Whitley (52); D Burke for McBride (64); C Currie for R Hayes (69); D Lucey for McHugh (75).

Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, M Casey; D Byrnes, K Hayes, B Nash (0-1); A English (0-5), W O’Donoghue; G Hegarty (0-4), C Lynch (capt) (0-2), T Morrissey  (0-2); A Gillane (0-9; 5f, 1 ’65), A O’Connor (0-3), D Reidy.

Subs: C O’Neill for Hegarty (15-16); C O’Neill (0-1) for T Morrissey (22-23); C O’Neill (0-1) for T Morrissey (half-time); B Murphy for Casey (half-time); D Hannon for Nash (51); P Casey (0-1) for W O’Donoghue (58); S O’Brien for O’Connor (65). Referee: L Gordon (Galway).