Limerick hurlers to jet off for warm-weather training camp

THE LIMERICK senior hurlers will depart this Wednesday for a five-day training camp in Portugal.

John Kiely's squad is heading to the Quinta do Lago Sports Complex in the Algarve to crank up their preparations for the upcoming Munster senior hurling championship.

After Limerick's Allianz Hurling League came to an end on last Saturday evening, Kiely and his squad have now taken the opportunity to fly out to Portugal on warm weather training camp.

This will be Limerick's third successive year to head to the Algarve for the camp. 

The Quinta do Lago Sports Complex has been used by numerous inter-county GAA teams as well as the Irish rugby team in the past. The campus provides teams with access to pitches, a high performance gym, recovery pools, changing rooms, studios and bike sheds. 

"It allows you time and most importantly it keeps the group of players together for a number of days and that bond that they create when they are away during that time is absolutely key to them getting to know each other better and communicating to each other for the project that they are all apart of.

"The journey that lies ahead because ultimately those ties, bonds and sense of unity and togetherness is a vital part of what team sport is about," explained Limerick senior hurling John Kiely after last year's training camp. 

Limerick finished in fifth place on five points in Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League. Kiely will be hoping that this training camp can give the Munster champions an edge heading into the provincial championship. 

The Shannonsiders begin their Munster championship campaign against Tipperary on Sunday, April 20 at Semple Stadium, Thurles, 4pm.