Kiely facing further headaches with Limerick panel to be whittled down

LIMERICK hurling manager John Kiely has a good headache to deal with in the coming days and weeks with a decision pending on selecting his panel for the rest of the league and Munster Championship.

Kiely is currently operating with 46 players in his training panel but that is set to be reduced significantly and that decision is excepted to be relayed to those involved in the coming weeks.

The Galbally native admitted that the extended panel in its current form 'can't go on forever' but praised both the new recruits and the fledgling ones that joined last year and the year before after the win over Antrim.

"They are early in their career and it's all about incremental improvements as they go along," said Kiely following the 27-point win over the Saffrons in Semple Stadium.

"I'm very happy that their trajectory is an upward one. You would love to have them for longer. It's difficult in that respect when you're trying to bring along players.

"I would have like to see the U20s as U21s really to give them that little bit more extra time to develop. But it's not, so we have to deal with it.

"To be fair to the lads that have come in this year, they shown a huge energy, interest and willingness to learn. You can see the growth, even in the short eight week spell that they have really grown into it. They have brought great energy and our group will be very appreciative of their efforts so far."

Limerick face Westmeath in their second Allianz Hurling League Division 1B fixture in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday. The game has a 2pm start.

Kiely's charges then travel to Croke Park where a fixture against Dublin awaits in their next game after Mullingar on Saturday, February 24.