John Kiely insists Limerick in ‘good place’ as All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final beckons

LIMERICK senior hurling manager John Kiely has insisted his side is in a ‘good place’ despite Saturday's dramatic penalty shoot-out Munster senior hurling final defeat to Cork at the TÚS Gaelic Grounds. Kiely's side will face either Dublin or Joe McDonagh Cup winners Kildare on June 21 in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship quarter-final.

Limerick suffered a 3-2 penalty shoot out to defeat to Cork in front of an official attendance of 43,580 after the sides finished deadlocked, 2-27 to 1-30, after extra-time.

John Kiely said: “I have no doubt the men in that dressing-room will regroup, dust themselves down, and will really want to push forward now and be the very best that they can be in the remainder of this championship.”

2018 was the last time Limerick through the All-Ireland quarter-final route. Since then, the Shannonsiders have advanced directly to the semi-finals after winning Munster SHC in the six years between 2019 and 2024.

“It's a different route, but listen it's a game in two weeks time. It's a must-win game, it's knockout hurling from now on and that's the end of it. We will regroup, we will refresh, we're in a good place. We were beaten (on Saturday), we are disappointed that's not to say that we are not going to be able to regroup, refresh and come again. I have every faith in these guys to get back to the wheel again next week. We'll take a bit of a break, we'll refresh, we'll come strong I've no doubt,” added Kiely.

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The Munster SHC final was level 15 times over 94 minutes on Saturday evening before the Rebels clinched their first Munster SHC title since 2018 on penalties.

Saturday was John Kiely's first ever defeat in a Musnter senior hurling final as Limerick manager. Kiely's side were aiming to win their seventh Munster title on the bounce.

The Limerick manager felt his side's efficiency wasn't where it needed to be.

“Our efficiency overall wasn't where it was at against Cork the first day,” John Kiely pointed out.

“Our efficiency was just a bit down today. We were creating scoring opportunities, but it was a very difficult wind as well. It was a swirling breeze, and hard to score for both teams.”

Kiely said he would prefer if the game was decided in normal or extra-time rather than penalties but he went onto to congratulate Cork on their victory.

“I think everybody would agree that it is normal play that a game should be finished. Listen, these are the rules, these are the procedures, and we have to go with that. Fair play to Cork. They took the penalties when they came around.”

He went onto that there was no practicing for a penalty shootout.

“There is no dress rehearsal for this. There is no practicing for this. It is just put your best foot forward. You are taking a shot on behalf of the group; it is not on the lads.

“I thought Declan [Hannon], Tom [Morrissey], and Barry [Murphy], manfully, put their hand up to take these penalties. As far as we are concerned, it was Limerick senior hurling team that lost this, it wasn't anything to do with Barry, Tom, or Declan for sure.”