David Reidy likely to miss Galway trip as John Kiely provides an update on Declan Hannon and Mike Casey

Limerick are on a down week in the national hurling league prior to their trip to Salthill on February 26.

John Kiely’s Limerick got off the mark in the 2023 National Hurling League on Saturday evening with a comprehensive 1-27 to 2-18 victory over Clare in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

The six-point margin of victory was generous to the Banner who hit 1-5 without reply late on to put a gloss on the result in a game where Limerick rarely looked in trouble.

The first hour of action was pretty much perfect from a Limerick point of view barring the injuries suffered to Fergal O’Connor and David Reidy. O’Connor shipped a blow to the head and was removed after a half hour following a positive start.

Reidy only lasted nine minutes before pulling up with a hamstring injury with Kiely saying the Dromin Athlacca man is likely to be out for a “few weeks.”

“David (Reidy) pulled up with a hamstring so will probably be a few weeks so will be a few weeks before he is back in competitive action. We will just have to work on that and get it right for him. We’ve been there before so hopefully, it won’t be too serious.”

Adam English replaced Reidy in a like-for-like swap as the Doon man fired over a fine brace from midfield as well as setting up their only goal with five minutes to play.

English, who scored 0-5 for UL at corner forward on Thursday evening in the Fitzgibbon Cup, looked comfortable in his role in midfield as Kiely outlined his thought process on the substitution.

“We are looking at out-group overall and seeing how best we can put it to use. We have to maximize the talent and its effectiveness in our group. If a fella is given a job to do, we expect him to go in and do it.”

Kiely also provided an update on the fitness of injured duo Declan Hannon and Mike Casey in the aftermath of the Clare contest with both ruled out prior to throw in. The teams’ captain suffered a nasty finger injury against Cork in the first round and is “unlikely” to feature in Galway in a fortnight’s time with Casey in a similar position after suffering a knee injury for Na Piarsaigh in November.

“I’ don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see. Declan is only a week now, it was a nasty injury. They won’t be involved in the next two weeks I’d say, unlikely, unlikely.”

Limerick are on a down week ahead of their third-round clash against Galway in Pearse Stadium on February 26.

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