KYLE Hayes was flawless at centre-back for Limerick in Sunday’s runaway defeat of Cork in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship at a packed Gaelic Grounds.
Hayes’ brilliance was encapsulated as he put his body on the line to deny Séamus Harnedy a stoppage-time goal.
Triumphant manager John Kiely enthused: “Kyle’s leadership was just tremendous at the back. I thought he was just exemplary. His discipline was through the roof and he’s an example to all the other lads on the field.”
“He’s in a great vein of form and long may it last.”
The RTÉ panel too were full of praise for the five-time All-Star.
Former Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy said: “Limerick dismantled Cork today, and Kyle Hayes was central to that.”
“His energy and his ability to read the game, as soon as he snuffs danger, and I think he was very disciplined in the tackle today, I thought he done extremely, extremely well, and they just couldn’t break him down.
“He had to get man of the match.”
Clare legend Anthony Daly added: “He’s like a gazelle … It’s not just the breaking out, it’s the tackling, it’s the handing at the last second, it’s the whole package he gives you there at six.”
A reflective Hayes said: “In front of our home crowd here today, who have been absolutely fantastic supporters of ours over the last few years, it was nice to pay them back with a win like that out there.”
On their documented possible demise by pundits, he stated: “We don’t read headlines, nor listen to any outside noise. We’re only worried what happens inside the four walls of our dressing room. We want to build on this performance again next weekend against Clare, another home game and a lovely one to look forward to.”
