John Kiely: Limerick's 'defiant performance' was forged in lockdown

I think that was the telling moment of the year for us — how hard they worked through March, April, and May. They were relentless

Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes celebrate with Aaron Gillane after the game. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Limerick’s second All-Ireland hurling title in three years had much to do with the “relentless” work put in by the players during the first nationwide lockdown, according to John Kiely.

The now two-time All-Ireland winning manager has said that one of his abiding memories from this 2020 season was the condition of his players on their first evening back for collective training in mid-September.