Experience wins out as Kiely keeps faith with proven All-Ireland winners

John Kiely leans on his battle-hardened defence as Limerick gear up for a pivotal Munster showdown in Waterford

Limerick’s manager John Kiely and Declan Hannon. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Plus ça change?

The average age of the outfield defence Limerick have named to face Waterford on Saturday is a grand 29.3. If William O’Donoghue returns to centre-back and Kyle Hayes moves forward, it will jump to 30 on the nose.

Returning two accomplished hurlers in Seán Finn (29) and Dan Morrissey (32) to the team hardly diminishes it but with in-form Barry Murphy out of the squad completely having started against Tipperary, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say this is not a back-line John Kiely had designed. 

And still at 28, Murphy is no spring chicken.

Along with Hayes who played in the attack, Nickie Quaid (35), Finn, Morrissey and Mike Casey (29) all played in Kiely’s first championship game in charge against Clare in 2017. 

But for a knee injury, Diarmaid Byrnes (31), who made his championship debut the year before, would have begun that outing too.

The other survivor from defeat to Clare due to begin this weekend’s game in Walsh Park is captain Cian Lynch. The artist formerly known as a forward Barry Nash, Tom Morrissey and Aaron Gillane all came off the bench on that occasion in Thurles.

At 27, Hayes is the baby of the defensive sextet but this is his ninth season and Saturday marks his 45th championship game. In reality, Nash (28) is the youngest defender having reinvented himself as the roving corner-back in 2020.

Only 23-year-old Colin Coughlan, a starter against Tipperary last month but named on the bench for Walsh Park, has threatened to upset the apple cart. Fergal O’Connor, also 23 this year, has been tried too but is yet to break the glass ceiling.

Although Patrick Horgan and TJ Reid would be exceptions, the forward invariably ages quicker than the defender. 

When Kilkenny came back with a bang in 2011 after their failed five-in-a-row bid the season before, they did so with a seasoned rearguard, the average age 27.8, brought down by Paul Murphy, an anomaly at 22. 

Three of them were in their 30th year. Brian Hogan, who missed the 2010 final with a broken finger, was the oldest at 30.

Speaking in March, Kiely said he has sought an average annual rotation of 10% to his squad over the course of his term. 

The alterations to his teams work out as less. Comparing the 2018 and ’23 All-Ireland winning starting sides, there were four changes – O’Donoghue, Nash, David Reidy and Peter Casey for Richie English, Finn, Declan Hannon and Graeme Mulcahy. At least two of the defensive differences were injury-related.

Last October after agreeing to extend his time as manager for another two seasons, Kiely spoke of avoiding a cliff-edge and the need “for some continuity”. 

He added: “Over the next two years, there will be further steps taken to ensure the transition will be smooth and lacking in dramatics.” 

Indeed, there is nothing conspicuous about naming an outfield back-line all of who have all started at least three All-Ireland finals and between them marched in 26 pre-final parades.