Kearns: we're ready for the Kingdom

THREE years ago, in the townland of Kilmallock, Liam Kearns was enduring his first taste of senior championship football in charge of Limerick.

Earlier that day his side had been defeated by Cork by eight points, after producing a strong performance for three-quarters of the affair. In the aftermath, Kearns spoke eloquently to the waiting journalists, who were garnering quotes from the defeated boss almost as an afterthought.

"There is no reason why we cannot win the Munster championship in the next couple of years. We have a tremendous crop of young talent who, when they get into the habit of winning, will be more than a match for the best," he said prophetically.