Kiely’s panel to gain valuable experience from Munster Senior Hurling League

For the first time in nearly 50 years, Limerick will enter the new year as All-Ireland hurling champions. Nearly four months removed from their historic triumph over Galway in Croke Park, Limerick are back in action tonight as they face Tipperary in the Munster Senior League.

The Munster Hurling League has proved fruitful for Limerick recently with six players making their county debut last year, Seamus Flanagan the standout success story as he would start each of Limerick’s 18 competitive games.

From Limerick’s opening XV in the competition last December, 11 would go on to start the All-Ireland final against Galway.

Such is the strength of the panel, any of the 40 in the panel, including the five newcomers that have been called up for 2019 are well entitled to stake their claim for a place in the matchday 26.

The four that have been added to the panel by Kiely have all shown their quality in the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship. Robbie Hanley is an All-Star and All-Ireland winner at U21 level while his teammate Aaron Costello was arguably the best corner back in the championship this year.

Conor Boylan has a pair of Limerick Senior Hurling titles to add to his All Ireland U21 and Munster club medals. Doon’s Mikey O’Brien excelled at centre back for his club this year while Adare’s Ronan Connolly was the captain of Ard Scoil Rís successful Harty Cup winning side earlier this year.

The addition of these players in addition to the ambitions of last years fringe players signal that the competitive nature of this side will continue despite last year’s success.

Following on from the national victory, Limerick need to build on the buzz and goodwill that has engulfed the county in 2018.

The standard of hurling in Limerick is the envy of other counties. Na Piarsaigh and Kilmallock have won five Munster titles since 2011 with three All Ireland Final appearances and a win to boot.

The likes of Doon and Patrickswell have consistently been excellent in recent years while the Premier Intermediate Championship has been the real success story since its introduction in 2014.

Interest in Hurling is at an all-time high in the county and with a top-class Academy bearing fruits year in year out, there is no reason Limerick should not be winning All-Ireland titles on a regular basis.

Yet, this is easier said than done which is evident in Limerick’s 45-year-quest to retain Liam MacCarthy. However, with John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk in charge, the future looks extremely bright for Limerick.