Limerick can secure perfect finale, says John Kiely

Making an All-Ireland final was a long way down John Kiely’s to-do list when he was appointed Limerick U21 boss last winter.

After all, the county hadn’t won a championship game at this grade since a titanic extra-time final win over Cork back in August, 2011.

From last year’s starting team, there were just five survivors. Neighbours Tipperary, backboned by a handful of players from Eamon O’Shea’s senior squad, provided semi-final opposition and if their four-year losing streak was overcome, the reward was a final showing against either three-in-a-row champions Clare or a star-studded Waterford outfit.