Limerick refocus for All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final

THE LIMERICK senior hurlers will now switch their attention to an All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final. John Kiely's side will face either Joe McDonagh Cup champions Kildare or Dublin in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final on June 21 at a neutral venue.

Dublin take on Kildare in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final this weekend. Tipperary face Laois in the other All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final on Saturday.

John Kiely is confident that the Limerick senior hurling team can regroup quickly ahead of the All-Ireland series following their dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat to Cork in Saturday's Munster senior hurling final.

“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,” Kiely said.

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2018 was the last time Limerick went 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.

If Limerick get past the All-Ireland quarter-final, they will face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday July 6 in Croke Park.

Cork have advanced directly into the All-Ireland semi-final after their dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout victory. The sides were deadlocked 2-19 to 1-22 at the end of full time on Saturday. A late ‘65 from Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon in the last play of the game in extra time forced the game to a penalty shootout.

Munster champions Cork will take on Galway, Tipperary or Laois in the other All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday July 5. The All-Ireland senior hurling final takes place on July 20 at 3.30pm in Croke Park. 

Last Saturday was the first ever senior championship game decided on penalties. 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.”

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

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