All-Ireland Poc Fada champion makes return to Limerick senior hurling panel

LIMERICK hurling manager John Kiely said he was ‘delighted’ with how his experimental side had performed in their ‘Champions Under Lights’ challenge fixture against Tipperary in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation in Fethard on Saturday evening.

An inexperienced Limerick side were edged out by a point, 1-21 to 0-23, by All-Ireland champions Tipperary.
Tipperary led by six points at half-time, 1-11 to 0-8, and moved eight points clear early in the second period before a strong rally from Kiely's charges saw them draw level. However, two late pointed frees from Jack Leamy edged Liam Cahill's side to victory.

READ NEXT: Limerick edged out by Tipperary in 'Champions Under Lights' senior hurling challenge

The game saw Poc Fada champion Colin Ryan recalled to the Limerick line-up as goalkeeper, the Pallasgreen man having last featured in the forwards for the Treaty in 2019.

"He has played there before at underage. He's obviously a very skilful hurler. He had a very positive evening's work," said John Kiely on Colin Ryan's return to the Limerick senior hurling panel as a goalkeeper. 

“He has a lot to do, he knows that himself. It's still very early doors. But after a month's work, a performance like that, he'll be very happy."

Following Saturday night's game, Limerick manager John Kiely said: “I'm actually delighted to be honest with you. I thought we played really well.

“We created a lot of scoring chances, probably disappointed at half-time we didn't have a few more on the board, I think we had 24 shots in the first half and we only came in with eight points. That was probably the one negative of the night, just our accuracy, but it's early in the year, so we have plenty of time to work on that and improve it.

“I thought, as a group, they worked really, really hard for each other, used the ball well when they had it and yes, our work rate, I thought, was superb. All told I am very happy with it.”

Limerick face Clare in the opening round of the Munster Hurling League in Tulla on Saturday, January 3 at 2pm. Four days later, on January 7 John Kiely's side will host Cork in the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 7:35pm.