WATCH: Ciaran Carey and Cian Lynch reflect on historic 20th title

Patrickswell made history in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday when they defeated Na Piarsaigh to secure a record 20^th Limerick SHC title.

The ‘Well were underdogs coming into the game against a Na Piarsaigh team who were chasing a third consecutive Daly Cup and a sixth this decade.

However, Patrickswell started much brighter and Cian Lynch opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort in the opening minute.

The sides exchanged points before Patrickswell grabbed the only goal of the game after fifteen minutes when teenager Josh Considine fired past the Na Piarsaigh rearguard.

The Ciaran Carey managed side would control the remainder of the half to hold a 1-9 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Na Piarsaigh responded like champions and scored six on the trot to level the game with a quarter of an hour to go.

However, Patrickswell would rally again and notched five of the last six scores to claim their first title since 2016.

Speaking after the game, Ciaran Carey was quick to credit the current crop who helped create history, moving above Ahane in the SHC Roll of Honour.

“That’s the furthest thing away in our head. The boys will need to enjoy this. Let it soak in, they’re after making their own bit of history.”

That’s history. Some of the guys are experiencing their second Limerick County title. For a lot of lads it’s their first. When I was managing in 2015 and now, it’s even more special when you’re managing your own bread and butter.”

For Carey, the journey throughout the championship has been an unforgettable one for the ‘Well, who have gone seven games unbeaten, beating both of last years county finalists twice each.

“For me it was our seventh game played this year, undefeated. We overturned Doon twice, Na Piarsaigh twice so I think we won the championship in style.”

It was pure emotion and unbridled passion for captain and Man of the Match Cian Lynch in the aftermath of the game who spoke at lengths about the pride in the club and the players who have gone before him including his uncle Carey.

“For us to go out and get the win and see the people of Patrickswell, it’s special. It’s massive and I poured my heart out to these lads. The players we have are just phenomenal.”

When you’ve lads like that on the sideline that have done it for club and county, it brings that extra drive. For us to get over the line for these lads is great.”

Patrickswell will now advance to the Munster championship for the first time since 2016 when they were defeated by Glen Rovers in the Gaelic Grounds.

For Lynch, while the county championship win is to be savoured, he is hoping to prolong the season into the new year, with unfinished business in the provincial championship.

“For us, we’re not going to settle on this. We are going to drive on and try shorten the winter. You want to win as much as you can while you can, there’s no point settling on this because as we know, county titles and county championships don’t come around too often.”

Ever the modest player, Lynch shrugged off any compliments about his man of the match performance in the Gaelic Grounds, with his two late points sealing the result.

“They were aul flukes. The lads did the dirty work and I was on the end of the loose ball. As I said it goes back to that panel of 39 lads. I know we go on about perspective, but this is special, seeing wat it means to a small villages and small towns, it’s great.”