Byrnes: It was a great performance - now we march on

After a challenging Munster campaign, Limerick find themselves back in another provincial final and Diarmaid Byrnes says the players did not take any notice of the outside noise.

The Treaty men's bid for four-in-a-row could have ended at the TUS Gaelic Grounds today, but they prevailed by the bare minimum in a ding-dong encounter with Cork.

Coupled with Tipperary’s surprise defeat to Waterford, it means that for all the questions regarding the champions, they will now face Clare in a fortnight in a repeat of last year’s epic Munster final.

Byrnes was part of a half-back line that contributed 1-06, 1-04 coming from player of the match Byrnes, including a second-half penalty.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the game, the Patrickswell man paid tribute to the character of his team-mates.

"It was only four or five days ago we were dead and buried after a phenomenal couple of years that we have had," he said.

"We’re happy to come out on top. It was a great performance, the lads are back on form.

"Hego (Gearoid Hegarty) last week, probably the worst player on the field, today absolutely outstanding.

"Now we march on."

"The pundits need something to write about - and unfortunately it's us!" - Diarmaid Byrnes says Limerick have been blocking out the noise and focusing on themselves the last few weeks #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/5CwrAuwvoO

Byrnes also addressed some of the rumours swirling around regarding his team, and talk of their potential demise

"Outside noise, Caroline (Currid, sports psychologist) has us well driven. We’re far too experienced for that as a group. We don’t let any of that into our own circle," last year’s Player of the Year insisted.

"People talk, the media talk, they need their reference points, they need something to talk