Cian Lynch's decade of Limerick artistry
Ten years ago today, 'Ciarán Carey's nephew' was handed a Limerick championship jersey for the first time. Five All-Irelands, six Munsters, two Player of the Year awards and three All-Stars later, Cian Lynch is very much his own man.
It was Clare then – producing a Player of the Match award on debut – and it's Clare now with John Kiely's side welcoming the current Liam MacCarthy holders to the Gaelic Grounds tomorrow.
That was the case all the way back in 1996 too when the Banner arrived in Limerick as All-Ireland champions but were knocked out as Carey scored one of hurling's most iconic points when he ran three-quarters of the pitch and fired over.
Like 1996, Clare will pull away on the team bus tomorrow knowing their All-Ireland dreams are over, but this season the coup de grâce was delivered before even coming up against the Treaty County.
With Limerick's final spot confirmed, Lynch has been given his tenth anniversary weekend off to celebrate - one of eight changes from the side that dismantled Cork. Such is Kiely's embarrassment of riches, he can afford to rest his most important players for bigger challenges ahead.
The Limerick squad Lynch entered under TJ Ryan was a lot different to the beast we know today – the one that ruthlessly reminded the country of its scary possibilities last weekend against Cork with the Patrickswell man's deft flick for Adam English's goal a reminder that for all the brawn there's an equal amount of artistry.
No All-Ireland since 1973, the year prior to Lynch's inclusion had yielded an unexpected run to the semi-final where they were pipped by eventual champions Kilkenny. That journey felt like it was almost fuelled by pure ignorance from the fall-out of Donal O'Grady's decision to step down as joint-manager just prior to the championship as he, and Ryan, contested comments in the press from Limerick officials that they had "apologised for the abysmal displays" during the league.
Given many Limerick players had been on strike just a few years earlier, it was not a county noted for its stability.
The seeds were being sown though to grow more solid roots.
Two Munster minor titles and two further final appearances between 2013 and '16 - Lynch helping the side to a first title in 29 years in '13 before captaining them as they retained the crown the following season. Weeks after his senior championship debut, he helped Kiely's Under-21 side win the All-Ireland with a sensational performance in a roving role against Wexford.
While Lynch was getting ready to make his bow against Clare, the undercard that day featured an IHC clash between the counties with recent Munster minor winners like Richie English, Daragh O'Donovan, Sean Finn and Mike Casey included in Don Flynn's squad.
The talent was there, the consistency was not with Lynch's first three seasons resulting in two Round 2 qualifier defeats and a Round 1 qualifier loss.
Then the breakthrough year, 2018.
Lynch's magic dust finally gaining national recognition with a Celtic Cross and the Hurler of the Year gong.
Bigger, faster, stronger but still playing the game differently to the rest. He has the commodity that only the very best sporting stars are able to afford – the ability to seemingly slow play down when in possession.
Lynch is the provider of so many showreel moments: the 2022 point against Cork off his knees, his panache for blind handpasses and his repertoire of chopping the ball off the deck in the silkiest manner thinkable. If there is one surprising stat it's that he has only three goals to his name – Galway (2017) and Offaly (2022) in the league and a crucial strike in the 2018 All-Ireland semi-final epic with Cork.
The one player than can elevate this Limerick team from excellent to extraordinary. So often leading by example, now tasked to simply lead having replaced Declan Hannon as captain for the 2025 season.
Prior to last weekend's demolition of the Rebels, Lynch was 11/1 to be named Hurler of the Year for a third time. He is now favourite at 4/1.
Only one player has ever won the award three times – Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin. Whatever the rest of the season may hold for Lynch and Limerick, the last decade has ensured his status as a hurling legend has been secured.
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