LISTEN: John Kiely praises young players – “they’ve improved from game to game”

John Kiely delighted with his young stars stepping up to the plate when needed against Cork.

When Limerick needed leaders against Cork on Saturday evening after the sending off of Aaron Gillane, a number of young players, who have worked with John Kiely underage, stepped up and lead by example. Seamus Flanagan, who is still U21, was virtually unmarkable on Saturday chipping in with five points from play despite having to contend with breaking through his man and Cork’s extra defender.

Tom Morrissey had the unenviable job of taking over the free taking duties in the absence of Gillane, and was flawless from placed balls while also notching four from play. Sean Finn, a winner of two U21 All-Ireland titles, goes about his business in a quiet manner but is quickly establishing himself as one of the elite corner backs in the game. If Limerick are to progress late into the summer, his late block on Seamus Harnedy could prove to be vital.

These are just a few of this exceptional group of young hurlers John Kiely has on his hands, and he is delighted with the progress they are all making this year.

“They’re improving with every game. Right throughout the year they’ve improved from game to game to game. So they can take an awful lot of confidence in that there’s a huge capacity for them to keep moving in the direction that they are going in.”

“I thought they played really well up there, in quite a lonely job they were doing, especially with Cork willing to hit so many short puckouts, it was sapping on their energy.”

Listen to the full interview with John Kiely on our Soundcloud channel below.