Cian Lynch happy to be able to repay idol Declan Hannon in moment of glory

Cian Lynch had a less than ideal 12 months from May 2022 to the same month this year, but this was a sporting story with a happy ending for him.

A hamstring injury disrupted his summer last year, and then on his return he injured his ankle in the run up to the All-Ireland final and it required surgery to be rectified.

All told he missed the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, although Declan Hannon made sure that the Patrickswell man was there to lift the Liam MacCarthy with him at Croke Park.

Jump forward 12 months and the roles were reversed last month as captain Hannon missed out on the final against the Cats due to injury.

"Once the final whistle went I knew I had to pull my socks up and get ready to say a speech," he told RTÉ Sport as he accepted the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month award for July.

"My main aim was to get over to Dec and grab him and do exactly what he did for me last year because not togging out on the day, because of an injury, is hard.

"You do spend all your life hoping to get to these days - All-Ireland final day - and being able to tog out. Dec has never been injured either and to have that taken away is hard.

"It [last year] was a moment I'll never forget, the way he grabbed me on the pitch and brought me up those steps and lifted the cup. He's so laid back, he'd hate the limelight to be on him.

"But I was like, 'Dec, come on, let's do this!' I was grateful to have that privilege to stand beside him because growing up, even in Ardscoil Rís [Limerick secondary school] when I was in third year and he was in sixth year, playing Harty Cup I was idolising him.

"Then he went to play seniors with Limerick, and I was with the minors, so to have the opportunity to walk up the Hogan Stand with him is just mad."

Bu