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.
Player ratings: Perfect 10 for Gearoid Hegarty as Nickie Quaid cements All-Star
Christy O Connor and Kieran Shannon rate the players involved in the All-Ireland final
Waterford’s Conor Gleeson with Gearoid Hegarty of Limerick: Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Sun, 13 Dec, 2020 - 19:19
Christy O Connor and Kieran Shannon LIMERICK (rated by Christy O Connor) Nickie Quaid: Outstanding. Made a very smart and important save from Neil Montgomery in the 13th minute when spreading himself and made six fine saves over the 70 minutes Puckouts were accurate efficient as usual; Limerick won 19 of their 30 puckouts. Cemented his All-Star. 9 Sean Finn: Gave the ball away cheaply for Jack Fagan’s early goal chance but it was the only glitch. Adhesive all afternoon. Very creative in possession especially when Limerick turned over the ball in their defence. Dessie Hutchinson did win a lot of possession but was restricted to just one point from play. 8
WHEN Brian Cody’s great Kilkenny team started to break up, I was convinced of one thing – that I’d never see their likes again.
Kilkenny had been so good for so long that it felt like they were a team of a lifetime. One that would stand head and shoulders above the rest.
But for me Limerick are forcing their way into that conversation.
If it sounds a little premature to compare John Kiely’s team to the team that won six of seven All-Irelands, let me explain.
Limerick are in the midst of a golden era. They have now picked up six trophies in just over two years. Two leagues, two Munster titles and now the Liam MacCarthy twice. And today they could quite easily have been playing for a three in-a-row of All-Ireland titles had they gotten a better decision on the ‘65’ that wasn’t in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.
); I asked him to lift the cup with me. I don t know why but I m delighted I did - Limerick s defensive star
Paul Browne on his club-mate who has shone again in defence for Limerick this season. Fintan O Toole By Fintan O Toole Saturday 12 Dec 2020, 12:00 PM Dec 12th 2020, 7:16 AM 48,749 Views 3 Comments
Seán Finn and Paul Browne lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2018.
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
LAST MONDAY NIGHT the Bruff U9 hurlers had a surprise visitor.
They would have been thrilled to see their local hero at any stage of the year, the hurling emblem they can all hope to emulate, but at this time there was a touch of the Christmas miracle for them in getting to meet Seán Finn.