Kilkenny
Eoin Murphy
Really solid throughout the game and never looked to be in any bother. (7/10)
Mikey Butler
Did his best to curb the influence of Peter Casey throughout the game but struggled in the latter stages. Also turned over once or twice. Took a bit hig from Diarmaid Byrnes early on. (6.5/10)
Huw Lawlor
Lawlor gave a Herculean display when up against Aaron Gillane, huge space, and nice deliveries into the Limerick square. Kept the Patrickswell man to just 0-2 from play. (8/10)
Tommy Walsh
Seamus Flanagan could never fully get going which is to Walsh’s credit but he did find the going tough later on. (6.5/10)
Richie Reid
Mopped up plenty of ball early on and looked set to take the game over as he had against Galway. Once Cian Lynch moved into 11, it was a rougher ride. (7/10)
Paddy Deegan
Not many expected the number seven to hit the net today to be on the Kilkenny side, but it was a fine display from Deegan. Rifled home his goal brilliantly, bursting the net, and popped over a point too. A far cry from the 2022 decider when the half-back line was sundered. (7.5/10)
Conor Fogarty
The 33-year-old was named at midfield but moved into wing-back on Tom Morrissey where he did well, and drove in the long ball from which Eoin Cody scored a goal. Withdrawn at half time. (6.5/10)
Adrian Mullen
Mullen was excellent in the semi-final but didn’t take over anywhere near to the same degree. At midfield with John Donnelly, there was a sense that there was a lack of balance to this area. (6/10)
John Donnelly
Worked his socks off and had an imposing first half but didn’t make the same impact after the interval. (6/10)
Tom Phelan
Scored three excellent points to give Diarmaid Byrnes his fill of it, but will be disappointed to have been hooked when going for goal with TJ Reid free outside him. (7/10)
Martin Keoghan
Had some decent moments and won a few balls but rather quiet overall. (6/10)
Billy Ryan
Tried hard but very quiet, and was replaced shortly after being moved to the inside forward line. (6/10)
Wally Walsh
Drafted into the starting line-up after injury ruled out David Blanchfield, the 32-year-old tried to choke up the space in the middle area by sitting off Kyle Hayes. Had a coupe of nice runs but didn’t make a huge impact. (6.5/10)
TJ Reid
An 82nd championship outing for the Shamrocks great, he hit seven placed balls to take his overall tally to 30-551. Had a few brilliant moments, won frees, set up Alan Murphy for a goal chance with a lovely lofted stick-pass late on, but it is tough to have an impact for 70+ minutes when approaching a 36th birthday. (7/10)
Eoin Cody (c)
Scored a goal from play and tried to force another soon after, while his wizardry had Limerick alarm bells ringing a number of times. Needed more ball. (7/10)
Bench
Padraig Walsh, Alan Murphy, Cian Kenny, Richie Hogan and Cillian Buckley came on and, being honest, the team struggled even more after the changes. (4.5/10)
