How Limerick can emulate Kilkenny and harness pain of missing out on five-in-a-row

The Limerick brains trust of John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk will know that change is needed if the county is to win a sixth All-Ireland hurling title in eight years.  

14 years ago, Kilkenny won the All-Ireland title after the previous year having suffered defeat in their bid to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup for a fifth consecutive year. Limerick are in a similar situation this year. Pics: Sportsfile

Fourteen years ago, much like the case with Limerick against Cork on Saturday, Kilkenny were given the chance for some small revenge on enemy soil in their first league game of the year.

Tipperary had shattered their five-in-a-row dreams five months previous and the feeling was raw. The Cats’ winning margin was seven in the end but from just over halfway through the first half they outscored the hosts by 12 points.

Declan Ryan may have replaced Liam Sheedy but the rag to Kilkenny’s bull remained the blue and gold. “We were eyeing up Tipp from day one albeit we didn’t take our eye off the ball with other matches but we were eyeing up Tipp,” Aidan Fogarty told “Off The Ball” last week. 

“And I can guarantee you every individual Limerick player are eyeing them Clare boys. They’re saying, ‘What can Clare do, what can we do better?’” Clare obviously succeeded Limerick and yet it was Cork who dethroned and ultimately denied them a historic five-in-a-row. If Limerick have grievances against teams, they are likely split between their neighbours to the south and to the west.

Fogarty also spoke about John Kiely’s need to be ruthless in his team selections this year, “making some tough calls” when apart from injuries his team has been extremely settled. 

“They’re going to have to make changes, not because they have to but because they have to get freshness into the team.” 

Of the 2018 All-Ireland winning team, eight started in all four-in-a-row finals as well as last year’s semi-final – Nickie Quaid, Dan Morrissey, Diarmuid Byrnes, Gearóid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane and Seamus Flanagan. But for injuries, Seán Finn, Declan Hannon, Darragh O’Donovan and Cian Lynch would have joined them.

In 2011, Brian Cody gave youth its head. Paul Murphy (22) and Colin Fennelly (21) earned their way into the starting team in the first half of the season. Future hurler of the year Richie Hogan (23) became more of a regular starter as did Michael Rice (27).

The same might now be expected of Kiely in giving Adam English (22) a place in the forward line along with Shane O’Brien (21). Aidan O’Connor (22) around the middle, Colin Coughlan (22) in the half-backs and Fergal O’Connor (23) in the full-back line will also be pushing to be included more frequently.

Now a team fixture, Cathal O’Neill (22) may be rewarded with a position to make his own. The transfer of captaincy from Hannon to Cian Lynch on a permanent basis might suggest the five-time All-Ireland winning captain is not a cert to start and O’Neill is the heir apparent. But the competitor that is Hannon will be inspired to defy any suggestion he is finished just yet.

Neither are expected to play in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday with Hayes filling the position in the first half of last Sunday’s challenge game against Waterford in TUS Gaelic Grounds and William O’Donoghue shifting from midfield to assume it in the second.

As PJ Ryan exited stage left, Kilkenny had a new goalkeeper in David Herity in 2011. Limerick, for the time being anyway and possibly the entire season, must make do without their Nickie Quaid. Shane Dowling and Jason Gillane are both expected to see action during the league.

Although Conor Boylan (26) has left the panel, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh (23), who scored 1-1 against Waterford, and Mícheál Houlihan (26), scorer of two points last weekend, provide further options.

As for the sideline, Kiely and Paul Kinnerk will have intensely studied the challenge set by Cork who showed there is more than one way of beating them. Last May, Cork hung onto Limerick. Last July, they held them off. In that All-Ireland semi-final, Cork outscored them 0-13 to 0-4 in the third quarter. When Limerick usually go hammering, they were hammered.

Keeping the ball away from Hayes, Cork made rich inroads but it may just be Hayes is now considered at No 6 and O’Neill on the left wing so the former has easier access to both wings.

Either way, the brains trust know there must be change. In 2022, Kiely spoke about the maturing period of U20 players being “insane” – “It’s like having your rookies coming out of college. They’re not ready.” 

Last October, he spoke openly about embracing the future. “I’m conscious that down the road we would avoid a cliff-edge where the management and backroom team would all change at the one time. It’s important that we have future planning in our mindset as we go forward. Over the next two years, there will be further steps taken to ensure the transition will be smooth and lacking in dramatics.” 

Saturday may not give a true indication of that evolution but it could provide a hint.