Limerick manager John Kiely happy with players attitude despite loss to Cork

LIMERICK senior hurling manager John Kiely paid tribute to his group of players following their narrow Munster Hurling League loss to Cork yesterday.

The Galbally man said that he was especially happy with the attitude shown by his charges, despite the one-point defeat to the Rebels at Páirc Uí Rinn.

“A good competitive game. Both teams really went after it to get the victory. Very little between teams throughout,” John Kiely said.

“Cork just got those couple of scores to squeeze it out. From our perspective, really, really happy with the attitude of the players today.

“Worked extremely hard and battled for everything. We have a few young lads that are after joining us from last year and this year. They got onto the pitch and got fantastic experience of playing at that level.”

Limerick's hopes of advancing to the Munster League final were ended by this defeat. However, Limerick will face Kerry in their second group fixture later this week.

Elsewhere, Monaleen are celebrating following their two-point victory over Tooreen in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Final at Croke Park on Saturday night.

The city club came back from a poor first half and only took the lead for the first time six minutes from full time. Five points from play from Man of the Match Donnacha O'Dálaigh proved crucial to the success.

Monaleen manager Eoin Brislane said afterwards: “This was our toughest challenge all year. You have to give Tooreen huge credit. They brought everything.

“In the first half they had us at sixes and sevens. We regrouped at half time, made a couple of adjustments and went man for man. The big thing was to get the ball delivered a bit deeper.

“We knew if we could stay going, the opportunities would come.

“In fairness, our guys stayed at it when there were times that we could have dropped the head. That's a characteristic of the team.”

Meanwhile, Limerick's senior footballers set set to play Cork in the McGrath Cup final on Wednesday evening at 7pm at a venue to be confirmed.

Ray Dempsey's men drew with Tipperary 1-13 to 2-13 on Saturday in Fethard and that result was sufficient to put the Shannonsiders through to the decider on points difference.