Watch | “There’s great character in this group” | Kiely confident of a response from Limerick after Cork defeat

Limerick lost their third game on the bounce in the league against Cork on Sunday.

For the third successive game, Limerick were made to pay for their lacklustre play as Cork came to the TUS Gaelic Grounds and earned victory in the third round of the League.

Cork outplayed the Treaty County for the majority of the contest as they won out 2-19 to 1-13.

Limerick just weren’t at the races in the first half when the visitors took an early lead. There was a glimmer of hope for the home side when Shane Kingston saw red for a poor challenge on Sean Finn but moments after Seamus Flanagan saw the same for a similar challenge on Niall O’Leary of Cork.

Cork were able to hold off any Limerick attempt at a comeback winning the game by nine points with the result rarely in doubt after the opening quarter.

Reflecting on the disappointing outcome, Limerick manager John Kiely remained upbeat, insisting his side would do the necessary work to rectify the defeat.

“The response in the second half was strong , came back created loads of scoring chances. I think had we maybe taken one or two more we could have pushed it a little bit more, I would have liked to have gotten it down below six and really ask some questions but Cork came back and got scores at times when we were maybe gaining momentum.

“We just didn’t do enough of the things we wanted to do right on the day. We have to go back and keep working on it at training. Clearly it’s a challenge at the minute for us but it’s a challenge that we will embrace.

“The players I know are hurting at the moment, they’re finding it difficult but there’s great character in this group, great leadership, tremendous ability in this group and when these boys backs are put to the wall I know the response that they will give, I’ve no doubt in my mind whatsoever what that response will be, I wouldn’t want want to be in this position with any other bunch of men .”

Limerick were in a similar position last year after failing to pick up a win in their first three games. But while last year they had a point on the board, the Shannonsiders have lost three on the bounce.

But Kiely says the side are moving week to week and is hopeful of an improved performance against Clare in Ennis next Sunday.

“No two seasons are the same, the man power isn’t even the same, at the end of the day different fellas are out, different fellas have injuries. At the moment we’re just moving from week to week and our focus this week will turn to next Sunday going to Ennis and to try and produce the best performance we can. That’s the bottom line.”

Watch the interview with Kiely in full below.

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