Kilmallock senior hurling manager James Hickey hails Shane O’Brien as an unbelievable team player

KILMALLOCK senior hurling manager James Hickey praised his side's character after their extra-time victory over Monaleen in the Limerick senior hurling championship quarter-final.Their victory has set up a meeting with Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick SHC semi-final next weekend. 

“We probably got a bit of luck there near the end, we just got a couple of scores at vital moments. I'm delighted with the boys, all we asked for all week was just to do Kilmallock proud and that's what they did.

“It's very much a player led environment, they're an unbelievable group of players and after (Sunday) we have 30 players used in championship, I'm so proud” said James Hickey after Kilmallock's victory over Monaleen in the Limerick SHC quarter-final on Sunday evening in Bruff.

The Cratloe native has enjoyed working with Kilmallock. Hickey was part of Peter Queally's backroom team last year with the South Limerick club. This year Hickey took over as manager of the club.

“It's a proud town for hurling, obviously being from Clare and I'm only here in my second year now, how much hurling means to them in Kilmallock is unreal. My biggest thing is I just love going down there training and seeing young fellas around and seeing older fellas around.”

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Kilmallock will now face Na Piarsaigh in the Limerick SHC semi-final in a what is a repeat of last year's county semi-final. Na Piarsaigh narrowly defeated Kilmallock by the minimium margin in that 2024 county semi-final.

“You can't go into games being fearful, Na Piarsaigh are probably the best side in Limerick in my opinion and that's not blowing them up.

“I think of the teams we have played this year so far I have been most impressed with Na Piarsaigh and Ballybrown, they are in my opinion the two best teams at the moment. We'll enjoy the lead up to the game and we will need an awful lot to go right on the day.

“They'll probably need a lot to go wrong to get the win and that's being honest. It's something we are definitely looking forward too.”

Limerick senior hurler Shane O’Brien, who hit 2-13, proved the decisive figure in driving Kilmallock over the line against Monaleen. The sides were level 1-21 to 0-24 at the end of normal time. It took 80 minutes to separate the sides and in the end Shane O'Brien's goal in extra time proved to be the difference between the sides.

“(Shane O'Brien) is unbelievable he is just a Rolls Royce of a player. He takes a lot of punishment inside, a lot of lads pulling and dragging out of him. If you told him play corner back, it wouldn't bother him, he is just an unbelievable team player. “

Micheál Houlihan, Gearóid Enright and Graeme Mulcahy were all missing through injury for the South Limerick club last weekend.

“That's the one thing about the group, it doesn't make a difference who is playing and who is not playing, it's all about the group and what fiveteen plays trying to do their best for Kilmallock”.