AHEAD of their National Hurling League opening round clash with the same opposition at Walsh Park on St Brigid’s Day (February 1), Limerick posted a timely weekend win over Waterford in the Munster League final in Mallow.
Achieved with relative ease, 0-23 to 0-15, this was a fourth such competition success (2018, ‘20, ’22, and now ‘26) for the Shannonsiders.
Having led by just a mere point at the break, Limerick then made a fleet of changes, among them Nickie Quaid, Tom Morrissey, Colin Coughlan and Cathal O’Neill, which advanced John Kiely’s team to a comfortable victory.
The eventual victors hit six unanswered points at the outset of the new half to settle the issue early.
Aidan O’Connor of Ballybrown was the stand-out performer, with a huge haul of 11 points for the Shannonsiders. Shane O’Brien also contributed three lovely scores in the opening period.
Fringe defender Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen) was another to catch the eye.
Kyle Hayes, who suffered a serious neck injury in a club match in the autumn, has returned to some training duties.
“Kyle is doing a bit of work,” manager Kiely confirmed. “He has more to do, and obviously we are monitoring all of that.”
“Obviously, it was a very serious injury. We want to make sure that when he does come back that he’s absolutely 100 per cent right. That’s the most important thing.”
For the record, under Galbally’s Kiely (coach Paul Kinnerk, Monaleen, selector Alan Cunning-ham of Wolfe Tones, Shannon, and others) Limerick have won an incredible 18 titles: All-Ireland (5), Munster (6), League (3) and Munster League (4).
The latest cup was lifted by two-time All-Star William O’Donoghue.
The NHL starts this weekend, but Limerick have a bye and then will be on their travels to the southeast early on Sunday morning week.
Waterford – without their subsequent All-Ireland winning Ballygunner contingent – will provide more formidable opposition on the next occasion.