“He’s the heart and soul of our team” | Kyle Hayes on Cian Lynch, subs impact and the heat in Croker

Kyle Hayes was instrumental as he helped Limerick to a fourth All-Ireland title in five years yesterday.

Filling Limerick’s number eleven jersey is no mean feat with the regular occupant a two time hurler of the year.

Cian Lynch was the star of the show in the 2021 All-Ireland final but this year injury robbed Limerick and the country the chance to see the Patrickswell man in action, barring the first round and a cameo on the All-Ireland semi-final.

Into the void stepped Kyle Hayes, who was man of the match in the position in 2018 before he shifted back to wing back where he won a pair of All-Stars.

And slowly he began to rediscover the Young Hurler of the Year form at centre-forward with his Croke Park displays of 2022 of the highest order.

Lynch had made the return from a hamstring injury and looked set to return to the fold but another injury, this time in his ankle curtailed that with Hayes and co getting the job done for their friend and teammate.

“Anyone who knows Ciano (Lynch) personally, he’s an absolute gentleman, he’s the heart and soul of our team for everything through his ability to his skill and his leadership. He’s had such an unfortunate year and that definitely was a performance for him.”

With huge heat and intensity in the battle, Limerick could call on the likes of Cathal O’Neill and Conor Boylan, who both registered points as well as David Reidy and Peter Casey to drive the side home as Hayes alluded to.

“We rely on them boys from the 16 to the 26 coming on. It might’ve been Reidy this day but it was Boylan this day and another day now we’ll see who’s up next. We keep going on about our squad the whole time and you see it every time we play.”

Talking about the heat in Croke Park, the Kildimo Pallaskenry man paid little attention to one of the hottest days of the years as the players soldiered tirelessly.

And when everything around them was heating up, Limerick stayed cool and remained composure to etch their names into the history books.