Much as was expected Kilkenny proved to have too much craft and class for a gallant Limerick 15 in today's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final. From the outset Kilkenny raced into an eight point lead with my Man of the Match Eddie Brennan registering the first goal. Henry Shefflin who later in the half was forced to retire a cruciate ligament injury left his trademark notching the second goal when it looked as if there was no way he could wriggle free of the clutches of Stephen Lucey and Damien Real. But wriggle free he did and insured that Limerick would now have to play catch-up. Much has been written about this Kilkenny team, words like 'awesome', 'unbeatable' and 'magnificent' are most often used to describe them. A measure of their strength is they can afford to lose players of the calibre of Noel Hickey and Henry Shefflin and replace them with players who are almost as good. Kilkenny had many heroes today the aforementioned Eddie Brennan, Owen Larkin, Jackie Tyrell, Tommy Walsh, Martin Lyng, goalkeeper PJ Ryan and of course the irrepressible 'Bainnesteoir' Brian Cody. Limerick did not go down without a fight. At the beginning of the Championship few would have predicted that they would get this far. From their first game against Tipperary to today's showpiece they have shown remarkable improvement. Players like Stephen Lucy, Brian Geary, Olly Moran, Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Brian Begley will be heard of again. To lose to such a team as Kilkenny is not a shameful experience. It is always tough to lose a final but the experts say 'one has to lose one, to win one'. If this is so it will not be long before the Liam McCarthy Cup finds its home by Shannonside.

In the Minor final Tipperary proved much too good for Cork. The future looks bright for the Premier County who have lost ground to their great rivals Cork and Kilkenny in the Senior stakes. But today's victory sees the three leading counties level on eighteen titles apiece at Minor level. Tipperary stars were Michael Heffernan, Brendan Maher, Noel McGrath and Sean Carey. Carey's last goal was a 'peach', a blinding solo run was finished off with a volleyed kick that 'Gooch' Cooper would be proud of. Cork had star performers in McCarthy, O'Mahony and Clifford.

And so the curtain comes down on what was a truly remarkable Hurling season. The Cats take the cream, Waterford the tears and Limerick will live in hope that their day in the sun is not too far away.