Gary Kirby predicts good future for Limerick’s Cian Lynch

Limerick hurling’s bright young star Cian Lynch is capable of rolling with the punches at senior level, according to his Patrickswell club-mate Gary Kirby.

The 19-year-old, nephew of Ciarán and Pa Carey, made his league debut against Waterford last weekend and will follow it up with another start when Limerick make the long trip to face Antrim in Ballycastle on Sunday.

In the Waterford Crystal final win over Cork, he picked off four points, one of them a Kevin Broderick-style score: he soloed the ball then lifted it over a Cork defender’s head and caught the ball on his hurley before sending it over.

Lynch’s precocious skill-set may put a target on his back but Kirby is confident he will be able to cope with the attention. “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. He’s well able to look after himself. He’s well used to it even at this stage.

“Growing up as a young fella and coming through, he was probably the main player on each team he’s been on and he’s had to mind himself that way. He’s very good in handling what’s around him. A good young fella.”

Kilmallock’s lengthy interest in the All-Ireland Club championship may have opened the door further for Lynch but Kirby believes TJ Ryan has been right to give him his chance now.

“He’s been going very well with the Limerick minors for the last two years and if you were looking for somebody to step up he was the guy you had to pick. I’ll be honest, I think they’ve picked the right two minors to play with the seniors at the moment: Tom Morrissey and Cian.

“Cian’s dedicated to the game, he’s good at all sports but he’s committed to the hurling. I’ve seen him doing things on pitches you’d pay to see. Our club and when he was playing minor they were always very good in judging his playing time. He’s 19, he’s fresh and I know TJ will look after him. The more games he gets with the seniors, the better.”

Also an excellent soccer player, Lynch spent some time with St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin before committing fully to hurling. The week of last year’s Munster final, he was asked to attend a trial but opted to concentrate on the game against Waterford and was rewarded.

Kirby, who sees the teenager possibly moving to midfield in the years to come, said the influence and teaching of his family have had a hugely positively bearing on him. The genes, of course, too.

“The talent is in the blood. All his uncles were fairly good hurlers and he’s been hurling since he was a child. His older brother (Kelvin) would have brought him on a good bit. Sometimes tradition doesn’t always follow in the blood lines but it does with him.”