Aaron Gillane describes catching advice from Ciarán Carey

Aaron Gillane said he improved his fielding skills under the tutelage of Limerick legend Ciarán Carey.

Aaron Gillane was one of a host of young Limerick hurlers who took 2018 by storm, as the Treaty marched to their first All-Ireland triumph since 1973.

The Patrickswell club-man was a revelation in the inside forward line, with his score-taking and ball-winning ability a strong foundation for the Limerick attack.

Gillane's fielding caught the eye on several occasions, and the Mary I student revealed that he learned from one of the best ever in that department, his club-mate Ciarán Carey.

"It is something that I worked on. I would never have been that strong at it growing up," says Gillane. "It's something that Ciarán Carey, he used to be over us in my first or second year playing senior, he just pulled me aside - I was a tall enough young fella - he just showed me this technique. It kind of took off from there - it was working so I said I'd keep doing it.

"Judgment - waiting for the ball to land. There's no point being stuck in between five or six people and trying to catch the ball. I just come in at the last minute and try to catch it. It's working at the minute but after saying this now, people are going to know!"

Gillane caught the sliotar over defenders throughout the summer, but frequently lost his hurley in the process. However, he vehemently denies that he was purposely dropping his stick.

"People thought I was dropping it intentionally but I definitely wasn't doing that. There's a few pictures going around of people pulling the hurley out of my hand. I definitely wasn't dropping it intentionally because I was through on goal.

"The Cork match, I would have had two goals in the first half if I had the hurley. I think it was Colm Spillane I was on and there were a few pictures going around of him pulling it out of my hand. I might show those to a few people!"

"It's great to have fellas like Carey around, everything that he's been through, a wealth of experience. People like him and Gary Kirby, I can't talk highly enough of them.

"I talked to him (Carey) on the phone - I haven't met him yet. He was over the moon. Obviously, he's delighted but he's regarded as one of the best hurlers that never won an All-Ireland.

"One of the main things that stood out for the three of us - myself, Cian [Lynch] and Diarmaid [Byrnes] - was bringing the cup back to Patrickswell, to the likes of him and Gary Kirby."