John Kiely interview ahead of Limerick v Kilkenny Allianz Hurling League tie

“ANY time that you go to Nowlan Park to play Kilkenny, you know that you are going to have to be at your absolute best - your attitude and approach are going to have to be extremely honest,” stressed Limerick manager John Kiely.

Limerick go to Nowlan Park on Sunday for the first time in Allianz Hurling League action since 2009.

“They have a fantastic home record in the league so it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to really test the lads again on Sunday and I know the lads are really looking forward to it,” said Kiely of the fixture, which will be live on TG4 at 2pm.

It’s over 20 years since Limerick’s last competitive victory over the home side in Kilkenny – that 1-17 to 0-10 win was on August 24, 1997 in a league semi final.

Remarkably, Sunday will be the first time since 1999 that a reigning All-Ireland champion visits Nowlan Park for an Allianz Hurling League group game.

“These are the games to get excited by - these games are the prize for winning Division 1B last year. We put a huge amount of effort to get out of Division 1B last year and the prize is these types of games at this time of the year so we are very much looking forward to it. It will be a big test and we are looking forward to seeing how they respond.”

Memories of Thurles last Summer and the epic All-Ireland SHC quarter final will come flooding back when Limerick and Limerick meet.

In the first league meeting of the teams since 2010, revenge is in the offering for Brian Cody’s Cats.

“They might view it like that but we can’t control that. We are only hoping to go down and get a performance,” Limerick manager John Kiely told LeaderSport.

“Both teams have had a rest and will be happy to get back on a competitive pitch and have a real cut and I think both sides will go for it. They have a good home record and will be looking to put in a strong performance. I think it will be a lively game - it’s the middle game of five so things will start to take a bit of shape after this weekend,” outlined Kiely.

“We went down there two years ago and played reasonably well but came away with a three point defeat and that ended our championship hopes for that year,” he recalled.

Limerick have used 23 players out of a panel of 42 in the two league games to-date and look set to reshuffle their deck again for Sunday’s trip Noreside.

“It will be game by game - ultimately the lads have to show in training that they have the where-with-all to earn that opportunity. It’s not a box-ticking exercise - they have to earn the right to be involved in matchday 26. To get an opportunity to play they have to show that they deserve it. You have to earn your right - you can’t just wait your turn to get a game or a jersey on matchday,” stated Kiely.

He added: “If fellas aren’t going well in training they can’t expect to be playing on the Sunday”.

“The challenge is obviously to get the lads of last year up to the highest level we can but at the same time try and find good opportunities for lads that maybe didn’t get much opportunity or game time last year - they need an opportunity to be able to put their hand up. We want to try and broaden the panel as much as we can during the course of the league - it’s been a measured approach because we want to be competitive in games as much as we possibly can but also to expand the panel.”

If Limerick are to reach the March 10 quarter finals and indeed reach a first league final since 2006, John Kiely’s men embark on the first of six successive weekends of action in Kilkenny.

After Sunday’s tie with Kilkenny, Limerick are back in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday February 24 to play Cork in the fifth round, before a final day journey to Ennis to play Clare on Sunday March 3.

“So far so good but it’s early doors and I wouldn’t read anything into the results but I would be happy with the performances and that’s most important,” stressed Kiely.