John Kiely, manager of the Limerick hurling team, has called for a rigorous and "uncomfortable" review of his side's performance despite securing a spot in the Munster final. The team narrowly defeated Waterford by 2-29 to 2-20 in a match that saw the opposition surge ahead mid-game. This win, however, guarantees Limerick a shot at their eighth consecutive Munster final appearance.
The manager's pronouncement of an "uncomfortable" review signals a critical assessment of periods within the match where Limerick appeared outfought, a lapse Kiely explicitly stated "won't do."
Limerick's victory over Waterford also had implications for other teams, crucially condemning the All-Ireland champions, Tipperary, to elimination from contention ahead of their final-round meeting.
The performance against Waterford highlighted areas of concern for Kiely, particularly a spell where the team "lost a few battles we would not be happy with." The impact of substitutions was noted as a positive, with David Reidy and Tom Morrissey making significant contributions. Colm Coughlan's introduction also shifted defensive dynamics, allowing Kyle Hayes a more advanced role, which reportedly "made us very solid."
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Looking ahead, the focus is now firmly on their upcoming clash with Tipperary. Kiely has framed this match as a de facto "Munster semi-final" for his team, underscoring its importance in their quest for provincial dominance. Limerick's recent championship run includes a ten-match winning streak against Waterford.
The match against Waterford saw Limerick rally in the closing stages, with a surge of 2-9 without reply in the final ten minutes, attributed to the efforts of Peter Casey and Gearoid Hegarty. Limerick's scoring was spread, with Aidan O’Connor contributing 0-8 (including frees and a 65m score), Cathal O'Neill adding 0-5, and Aaron Gillane also featuring on the scoresheet.
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Background
This review comes amidst a broader landscape of Limerick's hurling achievements, having recently contended for a seventh successive Munster title. Previous matches, such as a league decider against Cork, have seen tactical shifts, including Nickie Quaid's continued influence and questions surrounding Liam Cahill's record against Limerick. The team's structure has also seen changes, with the appointment of new strength and conditioning, performance, goalkeeping coaches, and a nutritionist. Limerick's dominance has led to discussions about potential championship format changes, with some suggesting that advancing four teams from the province might dilute the competition. There have also been discussions about team selection, with Limerick fielding a slightly understrength side in a past fixture and grappling with the absence of key players like Hegarty.
