Limerick senior hurling star Cathal O'Neill welcomes Caroline Currid's return

LIMERICK senior hurling star Cathal O’Neill has said the entire panel supported the return of sports psychologist Caroline Currid to John Kiely’s backroom team ahead of the 2026 season.

The current Limerick senior hurling team are yet to win an All-Ireland without sports psychologist Caroline Currid being involved in the backroom team. Currid has played a pivotal role in Limerick hurling’s remarkable achievements.

"We've nearly all worked with Caroline so we know what she brings. Obviously she's a huge player favourite and we were all in favour of her coming back. She kind of brings that bit of calmness to the group so we're just delighted to have her back and delighted to be working with her for the coming year," said Cathal O'Neill at the launch of the 2026 Co-Op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League on Wednesday afternoon. 

Last year Galway native Paul Kilgannon worked as the Limerick senior hurlers sports psychologist. 

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Limerick begin their Munster Senior Hurling League campaign away to Clare on Saturday January 3 at 2pm in Tulla GAA club. Four days later, Kiely's side will host Cork in the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 7:35pm and on the same evening thirteen members of the Limerick senior hurling panel will also be action for their colleges as the Fitzgibbon Cup gets underway. O'Neill is part of the University of Limerick Fitzgibbon Cup panel this year. 

The Crecora-Manister clubman also spoke positively about Currid’s work with the Limerick senior hurling panel, both on a one-to-one basis and with the team. 

"It's kind of a mix of both. She kind of is that mother figure for us, that we're able to bounce ideas off her. If we have a problem, we can go to her. She's just that calming voice and you can be sure that she's going to make it somewhat better or go away completely. We're just really happy to have her back."

O’Neill also paid tribute to Declan Hannon, describing the former Limerick captain as a player he admired growing up. Hannon announced his inter-county retirement in October after lining out for the Shannonsiders for fifteen seasons. 

"I suppose (Declan) kind of spoke to different lads and a text eventually went into the WhatsApp group. Look, what a servant and what a player. He's someone I looked up to even when I was in primary school and secondary school, so I was just delighted to have the chance to share the dressing room and play with him."

Last weekend, O’Neill featured at centre half-back in Limerick’s narrow challenge match defeat to Tipperary, a game played in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. He said he is unsure whether John Kiely sees him operating in the number six position this season.

"I suppose it had been over a year so going back there again the other night was refreshing. I don't know. Like, I've been playing there in training so I suppose it's something just to look at.

"At this time of year, it's just to try things and see if they work and maybe if different combinations work, so I'm not sure. I'm just delighted to get on the pitch more than anything at this time of year."