Limerick might well have created an even bigger slice of history on Sunday but for a “blip” last year, says Ciaran Carey.
The former county star feels that they left an All-Ireland behind them in 2019 as they suffered a surprise semi-final defeat to Kilkenny after backing up their Liam MacCarthy Cup success with League and Munster titles last year.
They retained those trophies in 2020 but, most importantly, proved that they are the best team in the game after brushing past Waterford in the All-Ireland final.
Carey told Live 95 FM: “Not wanting to sound too greedy, but it should possibly be a three-in-a-row only for the little blip last year but yeah, a Covid All-Ireland, it doesn’t matter what kind of an All-Ireland you call it, but the record books are going to show that in 2020 Limerick are All-Ireland champions and deservedly so.
“It was a true reflection of how dominant they have been the last two years, especially this year.
“To come up and to score 30 points in any All-Ireland final is historic and I believe there’s a lot more to come, thank God.”
Carey is stepping down as Patrickswell manager but is fully supportive of the split season model continuing in 2020 having had clubmates Diarmaid Byrnes, his nephew Cian Lynch and Aaraon Gillane on the Limerick team last Sunday.
“It gave the opportunity for your ordinary inter-county hurler, no matter what club he was with, to commit with the club and stay with the club until that journey finished and at that stage then they could go up another level and go back with their county so I see no reason why it can’t continue,” he added.
