Limerick manager John Kiely: "It all hurts, it will hurt as much as it did last year"

THE LIMERICK senior hurlers All-Ireland championship campaign ended in a shock defeat when they lost out 2-24 to 0-28 at the hands of Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon.

Manager John Kiely was very disappointed with his side's result but he felt the better team won on Saturday evening.

“Very disappointed, obviously, but we’ve lost to a better team on the day. Dublin deserve great credit for their performance.

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“To win that game with fourteen men for such a long period of time is such a fantastic achievement for them. I think things stuck for them today, when they went to pick up a ball it stuck, when they went to catch a ball it stuck. They were really good on restarts, on ours and theirs. They were really, really good on the breaking ball,” added Kiely.

Saturday's defeat was the first time John Kiely suffered a defeat as Limerick seniour hurling manager at the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final stage.  Before that, Kiely has only suffered two defeats in the All-Ireland series against Kilkenny in 2019 and last year to Cork at the semi-final stage.

“It all hurts, it will hurt as much as it did last year, we wanted to be back in training next week.”

The Galbally native will remain in charge of the Limerick senior hurling team next year having agreed a two-year term last autumn. Kiely was quick to dismiss the Munster final defeat to Cork having an impact on his side's below par performance at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

“In a word, no. We drew the Munster final in normal and extra-time. We weren’t chasing the drawing score, the penalties were the penalties.

“We took a bit of time after the Munster final. And after the Munster final got back on the horse last weekend. I felt the energy levels were good. Our warm-up went well today, and we started well against the breeze today, for the first 10-12 minutes.”

However, goals from Cian O'Sullivan and John Hetherton proved to be difference as Dublin defeated Limerick by two points.

“Goals win matches, they are a big part of it, they were two well taken goals,” Kiely said.

Dublin defender Chris Crummey received a red card from referee Liam Gordon for a high challenge on Gearoid Hegarty in the first half.

“Whatever happened after the sending off, there was a response from Dublin that we didn’t have, or give. Once they got their teeth into the contest they gave themselves a great chance.”

Cork will now face Dublin in one All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final, while Kilkenny and Tipperary renew their rivalry in the other semi-final.

Meanwhile, the Limerick senior footballers recorded an impressive2-18 to 1-17 victory over Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday.

Limerick will face Kildare in the Tailteann Cup decider on Saturday July 12 as part of a double header with a All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

The winner of the Tailteann Cup will be guaranteed Sam Maguire football for the 2026 season.

Limerick senior camogie team brought their All-Ireland championship group campaign to an end after they suffered a 4-26 to 0-8 defeat to Tipperary.

Elsewhere, Limerick Ladies footballers hopes of making the last four of this year’s TG4 All-Ireland Junior championship came to end as they no match for Sligo in a 2-13 to 1-4 defeat at Cloonacool on Sunday afternoon.