‘I remember some fella roaring at John from the stand’ - when Limerick were hammered on the pitch, abused off it

The Treaty's long history is the bedrock upon which a great team was built.

BLUE SKY THINKING: Limerick manager John Kiely has overseen an unprecedented period of success for the county. Bit it didn't happen overnight.  Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

The start was a shambles. Seven days after his first pre-season game, John Kiely and Limerick were booed off the Gaelic Grounds field. Before constructing the green machine that would leave a lasting mark on hurling, they endured a humbling dismantling.

“I remember some fella roaring at John from the stand that he wouldn’t be able to pick his nose, let alone a team,” remembers Barry Hennessy, Limerick’s goalkeeper for that match. Cork and Limerick played each other twice in the 2017 Munster Hurling League. In Round 2 of the pre-season competition, Cork triumphed 7-22 to 1-19.