Limerick refocus for Waterford test in Munster Hurling Championship

LIMERICK senior hurling manager manager John Kiely believes the gap between their Munster Championship opener and the upcoming clash with Waterford will prove to be beneficial for his side.

Kiely's side are back out in action on May 3 against Waterford in Walsh Park at 6pm. Former Kilmallock manager Peter Queally is into his first year in charge of Waterford.

“It's a benefit, of course it is, we have to make use of it as well from the point of view of, number one, being able to review accurately, number two, recovery and number three, planning and preparation for the next day. Energy and recovery are huge parts of this, when you get an opportunity you have to take it,” said John Kiely.

Limerick and Tipperary played out a 2-23 to 2-23 draw last Sunday in round one of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship at FBD Semple Stadium.

“It was a really tough game, I think both teams will benefit greatly from it. I think we've a lot to benefit from it because a lot of our players are coming back from injury and haven't a lot of gametime throughout the winter. So to get a game like that under our belt is going to benefit us greatly.”

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Kiely expects the competition for places on the Limerick starting XV to go up a level over the next two weeks.

“I think competitiveness wise in training for the next two weeks, there'll be a lot of lads very disappointed that they didn't make the team, didn't make the panel (on Sunday) that are really going to be pushing hard in the next two weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing that,” added Kiely.

Limerick goalkeeper goalkeeper Nickie Quaid made his return to competitive action on Sunday, just five months after picking an ACL injury. On November 17, Quaid sustained the injury  when he was playing soccer with his clubmates during the off-season.

On Sunday afternoon, the Effin clubman lined out in goals in Limerick's draw with Tipperary in round one of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. 

John Kiely said: “So when he's (Nickie Quaid) able to play in-house games and do everything that he would have been doing all along, it had to be considered. Just delighted he got through it, it'll be a huge confidence builder for him.

“You can't replicate a championship match in training. So this'll be a huge, huge plus for him and something that he can build on. He’s back now and that’s it.”

Kiely made some interesting positional changes against Tipperary on his starting XV pushing Kyle Hayes into the Limerick attack.

“There's no particular rationale for it as such. You're trying to maximise the group that you have and what you can get out of them.

“And I thought he contributed hugely to our front six in terms of puck-out options, in terms of his work-rate, in terms of line breaks, in terms of his assists, rucks. There's a whole number of areas that you'll say, it was a huge, huge plus.”