KIELY'S FREE WITH PRAISE OF GILLANE

JOHN KIELY hailed Aaron Gillane for his patience to take his opportunity when free-taking duties came back around.

- BY STEPHEN BARRY

Aidan O'Connor has been Limerick's preferred taker during the league campaign and scored 0-8 in the final. With a couple of misses creeping in, Gillane (above) took over upon the Ballybrown man's withdrawal.

His three dead balls completed a man-of-the-match-winning 1-7 tally.

"He's been practising like hell for the last seven or eight weeks and waiting for his opportunity," said Kiely (right). "He showed incredible patience, incredible support for Aidan in his taking of the frees.

"It was never, ever an issue between them or between Aaron and me on it either. He totally supported Aidan in his free-taking.

"Listen, we're blessed. We have two really good free-takers now on the pitch and that's a huge asset for us to have."