Kiely refuses to condemn Cooney challenge on Casey

Conor Cooney’s shoulder into Mike Casey’s head drew only a yellow card from referee James Owens.

Sun, 09 Mar, 2025 - 14:38

Eoghan Cormican

John Kiely refused to condemn the reckless Conor Cooney challenge that forced off Limerick full-back Mike Casey inside the opening nine minutes.

Cooney’s shoulder into Casey’s head drew only a yellow card from referee James Owens.

“I haven't seen it back so I can't say,” said Kiely.

“It’s on the players, really. The players are the ones that have to have the duty of care to each other on the pitch. Fellas get it wrong from time to time, not intentionally.

"Their timing is just off a little bit, especially when you have players coming back after being off and haven’t played in a few weeks, you come into a game then that is full-blooded, going really fast, and it can be maybe difficult to get your timing right.

“Mike was a bit groggy coming off. He saw it for what it was. We move on. Hopefully he'll recover quickly, and we'll get him back on the pitch as soon as possible. But listen, he's doing OK.”

Following last week’s defeat at home to Clare, Kiely was keen to see a response. And while stressing the 12-point winning margin would have been a lot smaller but for Galway’s shocking 14 wides and 48% conversion, he neglected to mention how his own team’s wastefulness - including 13 wides, three goal chances not taken, and at least one point attempt dropped short - cancelled out Galway’s inaccuracy.

“We pushed ourselves in the first 20 minutes in particular. We kind of set a good tone for ourselves more than what the opposition were doing. Last week we just didn't get our own tempo right at all.

“Next week [against Kilkenny] we'll be looking to see if we can try and improve on tonight. We can't allow the opposition to get as many shots off as we allowed Galway to get off tonight because they won't be missing them.”

Behind by seven at the break, Micheál Donoghue’s 14-man Galway were 12 adrift at the final whistle. It matched the opening day hammering at home to Tipp and comfortably halted their three-game winning sequence.

About the only positive for the visitors, who remain on six points in the middle of the table, was a first involvement of 2025 for Cathal Mannion. He converted six frees and added a seventh from play when introduced.

“Testament to him and the medical team with regard to the work they have put in over the last few months to get him back on the pitch. We were delighted to see him come back into the play.

“They’re an experienced team. We’re only starting the journey. We’re very aware of where we are and where we want to go.”