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In pictures: Phenomenal Limerick seal record-breaking All-Ireland SHC win over Cork

Cian Lynch wins hurler of the month for July. (Image: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

LIMERICK secured back-to-back All-Ireland SHC titles with a phenomenal victory against Cork at Croke Park.

The Liam MacCarthy Cup is headed for Shannonside for the third time in four years after the Treaty County secured their tenth title.

Limerick also set a record points total for an All-Ireland final in the 3-32 to 1-22 win.

Seán O’Donoghue of Cork breaks his hurl attempting to block LImerick’s Aaron Gillane (Image: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

A frantic start saw the teams trade goals inside five minutes through Gearóid Hegarty and Shane Kingston.

Limerick then hit a succession of points as they dominated the early stages.

But just as Cork looked to have pegged them back by reducing the arrears to a point, Aaron Gillane found the net to make it 2-05 to 1-04.

Shane Kingston shoots to score Cork’s goal (Image: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

That spurred on Limerick, who struck 12 points to Cork’s six over the next 18 minutes.

Just as the respite of half-time approached for Cork, Limerick dealt a decisive blow with a third goal through Hegarty.

Limerick led by 13 at the break and despite Cork battling gamely upon the restart, the Treaty continued to extend their lead.

Cork’s Seamus Harnedy up against Dan Morrissey of Limerick (Image: By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

By the time the second-half water break had come around, the score was 3-26 to 1-16 and some Cork fans were heading for the exits.

As the game entered injury-time, Pat Ryan struck the point to make it 3-31 to 1-20, breaking Kilkenny’s record points total from 2006 and ensuring Limerick became the first team in All-Ireland final history to hit 40 points.

The final whistle sounded shortly after, but ominously for other counties, this youthful Limerick side look set to dominate for the foreseeable future.

Gearóid Hegarty scores Limerick’s third goal (Image: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Cork supporters head for the exit in the 64th minute (Image: Ray McManus/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Eoin Cadogan of Cork in action against Tom Morrissey of Limerick (Image: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Darragh O’Donovan celebrates after the match (Image: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Supporters outside Croke Park ahead of the final (Image: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Limerick players, from left, Barry Hennessy and his daughter Róise, Graeme Mulcahy and daughter Hope, selector Paul Kinnerk and his daughter Enya and Nickie Quaid and his son Dáithí (Image: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)