John Kiely on Kyle Hayes case: 'It’s over, it has been dealt with by the courts, we move on'

The Limerick boss appeared as a character witness for the Treaty star.

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024 - 06:22

John Fogarty

John Kiely has insisted his appearance as a character witness for Kyle Hayes did not mean he condoned the Limerick hurler’s behaviour inside and outside a nightclub in 2019.

Speaking at the launch of the Munster senior hurling championship in Cahir yesterday, Kiely expressed his relief that the case has ended and Hayes had not received a custodial sentence.

The 25-year-old was given a two-year suspended sentence for two convictions of violent disorder against Cillian McCarthy at a Limerick city nightclub in December 2019.

Kiely spoke in defence of Hayes at the Circuit Court in January but maintained he did so as a demonstration of support for his player and nothing else.

“I think my presence, I wouldn’t have gone there unless I wanted to show him that I was there to support him but also that it doesn’t mean I’m condoning what happened at all, quite the contrary. Listen, it’s over, it has been dealt with by the courts, we move on.”

Kiely said he was relieved the criminal case was over. "I'm glad that it has come to an end. Very much looking towards the future now. I know Kyle is looking towards the future as well and pushing on. That's it, really. Just glad that it has come to a conclusion."

Asked how difficult a situation it was, Kiely responded: "Listen, none of this is easy for anybody and you'd rather not be in that situation. These challenges are obviously there for everybody involved.

“But ultimately it's down to the individuals who are directly involved. For all their sakes, I'm sure they're glad that this part of it has come to a close."

Hayes will not be available for tomorrow’s Division 1 semi-final against Kilkenny as he nurses an ankle injury. His only appearance in the campaign thus far was the win over Dublin in Croke Park last month.

"Kyle has trained really well over the last number of months. He has a bit of an ankle injury at the moment. He's very much enjoying his hurling in the last couple of months but obviously there's a challenge there when you pick up injuries in terms of trying to get back to a position where you're finding improvements.

“For every player who picks up an injury, and we have quite a few injured at the moment, at this time of year you'd rather be training because you want to be getting stronger, you want to be getting sharper and you want to be involved. You don't want to be inside in the gym or on a physio table so all the lads that are injured at the moment are very anxious to get back on the training field."

Kiely doesn’t sense Limerick are the subject of a “softening up exercise” from people outside the camp speaking about the team, as he claimed following last year’s edgy Munster Round 1 win over Waterford. “I think people were convinced that it was going to be a one plus the rest race. Which was complete nonsense. I knew that at the time.

“But it obviously had to borne out on the pitch for it to be understood and appreciated, and I think this year people are far more in tune with the reality and that is that on any given day any team can be beaten in certain circumstances.

“We know that. We're well prepared for that. I don't think the same narrative is there this year. I think last year's experience of the championship would lead people to expect a much, much tighter campaign based on last year's performances.”

At last year’s launch, Kiely’s prediction that the Munster SHC would be the most competitive ever was proven right. He expects it to be more of the same come next month.

“It'll be exceptionally tight again. Exceptionally tight. I don't know how many games there have been in total but I'd imagine that 75% of those games have been decided by a margin of three points or less. I think it'll be really, really tight and very unpredictable. It'll be great.

“Of course, everybody wants to come out of it and everybody wants to be successful. But knowing you're going into something as competitive as that has a great appeal to it as well because you know you're going to be put to the pin of your collar.”

Kiely felt the end of last year’s league didn’t feature “very competitive games for whatever reason”. As they face Kilkenny tomorrow, he anticipates the contrary.

“Judging by last weekend (v Galway), it's a different kettle of fish this year. It was a really competitive, tough game. Being involved in games like that can only be good for you in terms of preparation.

“If that's the case again on Saturday night, fantastic. If we have a really tough, tight game it will be good for both teams and good for both panels of players as well. Ideal preparation, really."

As well as Hayes, Kiely must plan without Mike Casey, Fergal O’Connor, Darragh O’Donovan, Dan Morrissey and Colin Coughlan for the trip to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Limerick don’t expect to utilise TUS Gaelic Grounds until mid-April as the playing surface is being protected. “We generally wouldn’t get in there until the clocks change anyway so it’s just going to probably be a little bit later this year, but we are lucky we have Rathkeale.”