All Ireland winning manager Kiely to remain with Limerick’s U-21s

ALL Ireland winning manager John Kiely is set to continue at the helm of the Limerick U-21 hurlers.

Confirmation came this Tuesday that Kiely and management team are to see out the second year of their reign.

“Limerick CLG is delighted to announce that 2015 All Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship winning Manager John Kiely and his Management team consisting of Jimmy Quilty, John Flavin and Ross Corbett have confirmed that they will be going forward in their positions for the 2016 season,” said a statement from Limerick GAA this Tuesday evening.

This time last year Kiely, John Flavin, Jimmy Quilty and Ross Corbett were handed a two year term as Limerick’s U-21 hurling management.

Confirmation that Kiely and Co are to remain brings stability to a grade that had seen management changes in each of the last three years.

Limerick will defend their Munster and Ireland titles next Summer with eleven of the starting team underage.

Just goalkeeper David McCarthy and the half back trio of Diarmaid Byrnes, Barry O’Connell and Gearoid Hegarty are ineligible.

Limerick begin their title defence in Pairc Ui Rinn with a quarter final tie against Cork. A trip to Thurles to play Tipperary would await in the semi final.

While without the overage quartet, also this Tuesday came confirmation that All Ireland U-21 hurling winner Colin Ryan is facing much of 2016 on the sidelines due to injury.

This Tuesday the Pallasgreen teenager underwent surgery in Kilkenny’s Aut Even Hospital.

Ryan had ACL ligament reconstruction.

Corner forward on Limerick’s All Ireland winning side, Ryan won’t be back in action until next July and will almost certainly miss out on the opening rounds of the U-21 title defence.

The unfortunate injury happened just four days after the All Ireland final win over Wexford when Ryan was forced off injured in the first half of the Limerick SFC round robin game between Pallasgreen and St Patricks.