Canning Questions Limerick's Tactics After Losing The 14-Man Dublin In Upset Of The Century

The Dublin hurlers produced one of the biggest shocks in the history of the senior hurling championship when they overturned Limerick 2-24 to 0-28 at Croke Park on Saturday.

Dublin were reduced to 14 men after captain and talisman Chris Crummey saw a red card for a wild challenge on Gearoid Hegarty. However, Dublin were relentless and produced their greatest-ever victory.

The Dubs took a three-point lead into the break and playing into the breeze in the second half, they went for route one hurling. Limerick seem to have gained a foothold in the game thanks to some terrific play from Adam English.

But just then Dublin produced two tremendous goals. First John Hetherton struck from an impossible angle.

Then literally moments later, Cian O'Sullivan had stretched the lead to five.

Suddenly Dublin fans were starting to actually believe. Also the Dublin footballers were set to play Cork immediately afterwards, and as the Hill started to fill and the support grew more vocal, it was clear a famous upset could be on the cards.

Limerick battled back as they were always going to. They were unfairly denied a clear black card penalty but the game was ultimately decided by a point blank save by Seán Brennan on the great Aaron Gillane. Brennan managed to force the ball over the bar to force a point. The point difference in the end was merely two.

The question is how exactly did a Limerick team with as much as class as this - and playing with the wind in the second half - lose to a Dublin team down a man for 55 minutes.

Speak on RTÉ, Joe Canning spotted an interesting tactical quirk from Limerick.

We can't overestimate, or maybe underestimate, I'm not sure which is the right word, how Limerick kept to their zonal defense and didn't go man-to-man, and allow them to push on a little bit more. Because as you said it actually looked like Dublin had the spare man in that second half. It's very unusual for a Limerick team to sit off a little bit, especially in their forwards. I don't think they got many turnovers on the Dublin fullback line or half back line.

Donal Óg Cusack meanwhile praised Dublin's tactics for overloading on bodies on puckouts. He also said it was an important result for hurling.

How many times have we seen Dublin followers drift in to see the Dublin hurling team getting their last rites, if you believe. It's a great day. It's a great day for Dublin hurling. But it's good for hurling. We've spoken about it for years. It would be brilliant to see a strong Dublin team. A full Hill 16. All there on time. Supporting Dublin in All-Ireland final would only do the game well.

He also paid tribute to Limerick.

There's a team there now after losing that have done as much as anyone for the game of hurling. Isn't it amazing when you get knocked off your stride, when you lose your balance, that it's hard to get back on the horse again.

Twitter was in rare form after the defeat.

Even the Irish Rail Twitter account got in on the action, reminding Limerick hurling fans who'd booked train tickets up for the All-Ireland hurling final that they could change their tickets, if they'd booked a flexible ticket.

After such a middling performance against Galway in the Leinster round robin, Dublin somehow produced their greatest win in Championship hurling.

Day of days.