“We’re happy with the draw, but we would have taken anyone,” commented Limerick selector and legendary Limerick fullback Paddy Ivess.

The final winning margin over the Royals was just nine points, but Limerick led by 19 with no long to the finish before leaking a few consolation goals (4-12 to 4-3).  Not bad, for a team rated the rankest of rank outsiders to trouble anyone in the qualifiers and around 1,000/1 against with the betting exchanges at the weekend.  The superb victory has vaulted Limerick up the betting charts and certainly turned heads in the commentary world.

Limerick had matters in their own hands by half time, leading 2-6 to 0-3.

“It was an amazing performance,” declared Meath legend Colm O’Rourke on his departure from the Ennis Road Grounds.

“I reckoned Limerick were a good team this season and although beaten by Cork in the semi-final, this result has certainly put that performance into perspective and Limerick are now a team capable of going much further that people bargained for earlier in the year.”

Ian Ryan delivered a champagne performance for Limerick, cracking open the Meath defensive almost for fun on occasions and emerging with a stunning personal contribution of 3-7.

The new pin-up of Limerick (replacing Brian Murray etc.) is without question the most exciting player to emerge for the county in years, and what a prospect still in his teenage years.

Other tour-de-force performances for Limerick came courtesy of Johnny McCarthy, Stephen Lavin and the tireless campaigner John Galvin, but the game finished without injured forward ace Stephen Kelly who must now be rated a doubt for the visit of the Lilywhites.

Also of concern to the Limerick management is the injury picked-up by former skipper Paudie Browne.

Kildare advanced to this juncture with a slender 1-16 to 1-15 win against Cavan in Newbridge, a sensational goal in stoppage time from James Kavanagh separating the teams.

Kavanagh’s three-pointer was decisive but so too were the displays of veteran Dermot Earley, Alan Smith and John Doyle, who was the game’s leading scorer with eight points.

Nobody will boss Limerick around in this championship, and certainly not Kildare.

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