Ronan Maher is All-Ireland hurling final Man of the Match

Ronan Maher has been named as the All-Ireland SHC final Man of the Match.

The Thurles Sarsfields centre back played a captain's part as Tipperary overpowered Cork in the second half of yesterday's final, pipping team-mates Darragh McCarthy and John McGrath to the coveted accolade, The Portlaoise-based garda was presented with his award by GAA president Jarlath Burns at the Tipp victory banquet in the Grand Hotel, Malahide. Burns had earlier presented Maher with the Liam MacCarthy Cup on the steps of the Hogan Stand.

"It’s absolutely unbelievable,” Maher said in an interview with RTÉ’s Joanne Cantwell.

“It’s what we all dream about, coming up to Croke Park and putting in a performance.

“Someone asked me earlier on what we done at half-time, but I think the group, as a collective, were really, really calm. We knew what we had to do in the second half.

“Listen, it’s an honour for me to captain this group of people, the players, the management, the backroom team, I’m the lucky one standing up here.

“Everyone put in a savage shift today, even the lads that didn’t get onto the field today, everybody was just tremendous throughout the year. It’s just a good, honest group of people here, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder standing in front of them.”