Caroline Currid's subtle influence again central to Limerick All-Ireland push

“There are four pillars in my view to a successful team,” said Kiely before the Munster final. “Coaching is number one, physical preparation is number two, psychology is number three, and environment is number four.

“Caroline has that responsibility for the psychological piece. It's never what you imagine it to be. It can be quite straightforward, practical, simple stuff. But just getting it right and maintaining standards, making sure standards are at the highest possible level that they possibly can be.” 

If it appeared Kiely was ranking the pillars, few would disagree with him. Personalise the departments and it’s Paul Kinnerk and Adrian O’Brien followed by Currid. Colonel. Lieutenant-colonel. Commandant.

That isn’t to say Currid wouldn’t have the authority to jump the chain of command if she felt it was necessary.

“She knows the group very, very well,” continued Kiely. “She's been with them for a number of years. Obviously, there's a lot of new lads now in the last two years when she wasn't there. She's really enjoying getting to know all those new guys that she never knew before. She's really, really impressed by them as good young men, young athletes that will contribute a lot to Limerick over the next number of years.

“And obviously she has a tremendous relationship with the players that have worked with her in the past and there's great trust there. There's a great understanding and only good things can come from that.” 

Currid is synonymous with Limerick success, present for all five of their All-Ireland SHCs since 2018. She was there for 2017 too when Limerick lost both of their championship games but she’s also now considered the lucky charm. Like the North Carolina college shorts Michael Jordan used to wear under his Chicago Bulls uniform.

“Subconsciously, they have only had success when Caroline has been there,” former Limerick hurler Seamus Flanagan told Off The Ball in April. “So, now the fact that she’s back, does that add a different dimension psychologically to the whole set-up? Do players buy into that like it’s a narrative, like it’s a factor? Definitely.

“Like, she’s unbelievable at what she does. It’s the subtlety she does her work with. She’s top, top class. It’s the most innocuous, subtle conversations here and there. She’s such a good people person.” 

Against Clare earlier this year, former Limerick hurler Shane Dowling noticed how she highlighted Clare had hit them for four points on the bounce. 

“Against Cork in the Munster opener, they built a lead and were reeled in and beaten,” he wrote in his Irish Daily Mirror column. “So when Clare landed four consecutive points, it was a warning.

“And on the sideline, there was a reaction. Caroline Currid, the sports psychologist who has long been part of Limerick’s inner circle, began calling it out. She moved from her seat in the dug-out among the backroom staff, walking hurriedly down the touchline to the hurley carrier. It was very visible. ‘Four, four,’ she shouted. John Kiely echoed it. Again and again. ‘Four. Four.’” 

Dowling added: “Currid’s role is often discussed. What she brings is not mystery or magic. It is clarity and trust… on Sunday, her influence was visible. Not in a speech but in a moment. In a call that cut through the drift and refocused the group.” 

Kiely would also be known to bounce plenty of ideas off Currid. She was involved in Limerick choosing to return home directly after the 2023 All-Ireland final win over Kilkenny.

In March, she joined Kiely, Kinnerk and former captain Declan Hannon for a fundraiser in New York. Just as they have done before as Munster champions, Limerick enjoyed a small training weekend in Kerry last Saturday week. They also took in the Kerry-Armagh All-Ireland SFC Round 3 game in Fitzgerald Stadium. There, alongside Diarmaid Byrnes, and with Kiely one seat over, Currid was seated in the O’Sullivan Stand.

The whole gang back together.