RTÉ Sport Journalist
An hour after steering Limerick to a second All-Ireland title in three years, John Kiely is still fielding questions.
He bats away one on his side s perfect season – they are the first team to win every league and championship game since Tipperary in 1961 – by insisting they had never looked past the next game.
But when he is pressed, Kiely briefly allows himself to savour the enormity of leading a team that had waited 45 years for Liam MacCarthy, before he took over, to such heights. We re immensely proud of it, it’s an incredible achievement, the Limerick manager told RTÉ Sport.
The future is green
25.5 years. That was the average age of the starting XV that won the All-Ireland title for Limerick on Sunday.
That isn’t much lower than the 26.2 of last year’s champions Tipperary but the difference is how many of Limerick’s youngsters are also their key men.
Kyle Hayes is 22 and Seamus Flanagan is 23. Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Sean Finn and Aaron Gillane are all 24.
Hurler of the Year elect Gearóid Hegarty, Diarmaid Byrnes and William O’Donoghue are 26.
Mike Casey and Richie English are both 25 and would have started if not due to injury.
From Limerick football days to claiming a sixth All-Ireland title as hurling coach
Paul Kinnerk’s remarkable winning run as a hurling coach contined in Limerick yesterday. Fintan O Toole By Fintan O Toole Monday 14 Dec 2020, 5:15 PM Dec 14th 2020, 5:15 PM 11,808 Views 8 Comments
Coach Paul Kinnerk celebrates Limerick s success with manager John Kiely.
Image: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Image: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
A DECADE AGO, Paul Kinnerk had his first taste of All-Ireland hurling final day as a coach.
He watched on as the Clare minor team he had helped prepare produced a power-packed display, yet they fell just short of Kilkenny by two points in that 2010 showdown.
Ballysteen club notes
Senior Hurling
Congratulations to the Limerick Senior Hurling Team who won their second Senior Hurling All Ireland in three years after defeating Waterford 0-30 to 0-19 on Sunday. While we were unable to witness the victory in person at Croke Park, the team managed by John Kiely & captained by Declan Hannon produced a powerful display to win Liam McCarthy. Well done to everyone involved and we look forward to the celebrations that will follow in 2021 when allowed.
Minor Football
Well done to the Limerick Minor Football Team on their win Saturday afternoon against Waterford. David O Shaughnessy (1-05) & Padhraic McMahon (0-2) played the full game which ended 2-12 to 1-5. The Footballers now face Clare in a Munster Semi Final this Wednesday evening at 7pm.
Limerick s Live 95
Search By Live95 News Team Keith Wiseman The Mayor of Limerick is praising people for celebrating the Limerick hurling win in a safe and creative way.
John Kiely s men claimed victory against Waterford yesterday at Croke Park with an 11 point advantage winning 30 points to 19.
Families cheered at home and many took to touring their local area honking horns and waving flags to welcome the Liam MacCarthy cup back to the county.
Mayor Michael Collins says he is extremely proud of the Limerick team today.
The Mayor was speaking on Live95 s Limerick Today this morning as part of a three-hour celebration to mark the hurlers achievement.