Limerick hurlers S&C coach Mikey Kiely leaves role for full-time rugby position

Limerick hurlers Head of Performance Mikey Kiely has left the side to take up a new role with Ulster Rugby.

The Ballybrown man has been involved with the seniors for the last two All Ireland wins but has taken up a full time position up North.

The 32-year-old has a PhD in Exercise Physiology and has split his time between Limerick and Belfast in recent months.

Speaking on the new role, Kiely is excited for the new challenge.

“It’s something I’m looking forward to. It will be very sad to leave the bunch of players and the management team.”

Kiely, who joined the Limerick set-up in November 2019, has played a key role in recent success, with Limerick becoming renowned for their superb levels of fitness and physicality.

After the win over Cork, the manager praised Kiely’s work in getting the panel right following the Covid lockdown.

“I think we timed our return to training work and timed our push right and that’s down to Mikey Kiely and Paul (Kinnerk) in terms of their setting the markers along the road of where we want to be at any given time — huge kudos to them guys because they got us right on the day that mattered most.”

Previously, he has studied PE in IT Tralee, before moving on to UL and then LIT before the PhD in Waterford IT.

Roles with the Limerick footballers, Cratloe GAA and Clare hurlers preceded his current role.

Mikey Kiely spoke of the satisfaction he has got from being involved with some of the players for a long time. Being with some of the current crop from the likes of 15 years of age, seeing them progress to achieve all they can.

The move to rugby is expected to be a relatively straightforward one for Kiely, due to the ‘professional set-up’ that the Limerick hurlers have.

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Ulster are currently in pre-season, preparing for the start of the new United Rugby Championship season, which kicks off in late September.

Kiely cited the main difference that he’s expecting is the ‘nuanced roles’ that accompany some rugby positions but the athletic development fundamentals remain the same.

Away from the day job, Kiely hopes to complete as much of the club season with Ballybrown as possible.