Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely reaches big Five-O

"WHAT we are looking at here in my view is the start of a new era for Limerick hurling.” The words of then Limerick County Board chairman Oliver Mann as he addressed GAA club delegates moments after John Kiely was ratified as Limerick senior hurling manager on Tuesday, September 17, 2016.

Eight years, eight months and 25 days later, John Kiely will lead Limerick into his 50th senior championship match this weekend - boosting a record of 35 wins, four draws and 10 defeats.

Speaking with the Limerick Leader in his first week in the role, Kiely laid out his mantra.

“At the end of the day for all Limerick people we want to be proud of the teams that we put out - proud of their skills, fitness, heart and passion. I want a team of Limerick hurlers taking the field at the peak of their powers and as well prepared as possible,” he outlined.

Across the last 3,180 odd days, Kiely’s Limerick has returned 14 major trophies Shannonside. Fifteen players in the current set-up were part of the 31-man panel back in 2017 and have been part of all nine championship campaigns under Kiely. Limerick had a backroom team of 23 personnel when they ended a 45 year wait for Liam MacCarthy Cup glory in 2018 and nine remain in situ across the coaching, stats, logistics and medical teams.

In his ninth season, the Galbally man guides Limerick to a 7th successive Munster SHC final this Saturday evening.
All very different to his first season as Bainisteoir when Limerick exited the 2017 championship at the very first hurdle
“We are building something strong and sustainable and it will be there into the future,” said Kiely after a qualifier loss to Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.How right he was…

As he prepares to lead Limerick into a 50th senior hurling championship match, it is worth remembering that Kiely served his apprenticeship well before stepping into the hot seat.

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An apprenticeship of seven years along the sidelines - intermediate manager, U21 selector, senior selector and U21 manager before succeeding TJ Ryan as Limerick senior hurling manager in the autumn of 2016.And, all can be traced back to the 6-19 to 2-7 All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat to Tipperary in 2009.

“I stood on the Hogan Stand on the steps that day when we were beaten very comprehensively by a phenomenal Tipperary team on the day. For some strange reason I turned around at the top of the steps and looked out over the pitch and I said to myself, 'I am going to do something to try and make sure this doesn't happen again'.

“I said it to my wife Louise but she didn’t realise I was serious. ‘Shut up, come on and get into the car or we will be stuck on the M50 for the evening,’ she said. I rang Liam Lenihan (Limerick GAA chairman) the next day to tell him I wanted to get involved and help out at any level.”

Kiely was appointed Limerick intermediate manager for the following year (2010) and set out on his journey that has seen the men in green reach heights previously unimaginable.