Cian Lynch is currently basking in the glory of ending Limerick’s 45-year wait to win an All-Ireland title thanks to their win at Croke Park on Sunday.
The midfielder, who is in contention to make the 2018 GAA All Star Hurling Team, produced another master class of a performance as his side defeated Galway by 3-16 to 2-18.
The Treaty men added an eighth All-Ireland SHC – their first since 1973 – as supporters celebrated at the GAA’s Dublin HQ and at a packed Gaelic Grounds.
Cian Lynch celebrates after the game. Image: ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
Lynch’s mother, Valerie, made her way onto the Croke Park pitch at full time to share the special moment with her son as the sense of achievement started to sink in for Limerick's players.
Speaking exclusively to OTB AM, Lynch joked that the Gardaí were looking to arrest his mother for trespassing onto the pitch.
“It will be the end of this week when we sit down with the families and watch the Sunday Game until we realise we were at Croke Park and did a great thing for Limerick city,” Lynch told OTB AM.
“It is what Limerick has been crying out for, for the last 45 years. People were shedding tears in the crowd.
“The mother actually hopped the fence and got on the pitch at Croke Park yesterday and there’s still a warrant out for her! It means so much to everyone. It is unbelievable.”
Cian Lynch celebrates with his mother Valerie. Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie
A photographer captured the moment Lynch and his mother embraced on the pitch as John Kiely’s men secured their place in Limerick history.
But it wasn’t until we sent Cian a WhatsApp message of the photo that he had a chance to reflect on the touching image.
“Ah Jesus, I see it. I’ve some head on me. Jesus that’s lovely now in fairness – she’ll be delighted with that,” Lynch added.
“I actually struggled to breathe for a few minutes and I was thinking: ‘Jesus, we’re after winning an All-Ireland’. It’s a dream come true.
“The mother came out of nowhere and I grabbed her and just put my head on her shoulder. It was a moment where I could actually just get a breather for a second; take in my surroundings and realise – this is what it’s all about.
“She was the woman who was there for me from the very beginning with the whole family. To see her there on the pitch and seeing her smiling puts it all into perspective really.”
James Hopper
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