All-Ireland champions Limerick survived a scare to beat a game Dublin side to progress to the National Hurling League Final after a vintage display from Cian Lynch.
Kilkenny legend Tommy Walsh was pitch side for Off the Ball and the former Cats stalwart heaped praise on Lynch, telling Joe: "It was a six point lead at one stage coming towards the end but Dublin just kept battling, like they will under Mattie Kenny. It was a really, really solid performance from them and there was only three points in it at the end.
"But, the second half was really 'The Cian Lynch Show'. He set up a goal for Seamus Flanagan...he was the star of last year. A big target man in at full-forward - he came on and looked really, really sharp.
"There was a diagonal ball from Diarmaid Burns - who picked up the 'man of the match' award today - Cian Lynch made a lovely run, the high ball came in, he caught the ball a little over head height with his fingers facing down like a claw and the whole crowd gasped in amazement. Listen, he's not the 'Hurler of the Year' for nothing!
"He played a lovely ball into Seamus Flanagan who finished it well. It looked like it was game over at that stage but Dublin went down and Ronan Hayes scored a fabulous goal to bring them right back into the game so there was only three points in it in the end.
"Definitely, for the supporters alone, to watch Cian Lynch in that second half was worth the admission fee alone," he added.
Limerick will play Waterford in the final after the Déise pulled off a superb 1-18 to 0-19 win over Galway despite having a player sent off mid way through the second half.
Mikey Kearney received his marching orders after receiving his second yellow card of the game, with roughly 15 minutes remaining while Stephen Bennett led the charge for Waterford, scoring 1-7.
However, the game was marred by a sickening collision which left Joe Canning requiring medical treatment in the dying moments and he was stretchered off shortly afterwards.
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