Newcomers must back up promising performances to earn starting spots, says Kiely 

With Aaron Gillane again absent, as well as Cathal O’Neill, Tom Morrissey on the bench, Seamus Flanagan held scoreless, David Reidy departing injured, and Cian Lynch refamiliarising himself with his maker and creator role in the middle third, there was something of a scoring vacuum to be filled within the Limerick tent.

BACK IT UP: Micheal Houlihan of Limerick scores a point from a free during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Limerick and Clare at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Limerick’s attacking arsenal has been deepened. 

That was plainly evident for each of the almost 16,000 who walked up the Ennis Road on Saturday evening.