John Kiely has challenged his Limerick players to outwork Clare in Sunday’s Munster final.
The Banner scored a landmark victory over their great rivals in the round robin phase on April 29, a game that they went into under considerable pressure having lost their opener to Tipperary the previous weekend.
But with Limerick hotly fancied to put their neighbours on the brink of elimination, Clare inflicted their first defeat in almost four years of Championship hurling, ending a run of 17 games unbeaten.
Brian Lohan’s side then beat Waterford and Cork to qualify for the provincial final, with Limerick subsequently joining them to set up a repeat of last year’s decider.
“Losing to Clare in the round robin was very disappointing for us,” Limerick boss Kiely acknowledged. “It was the blemish in our record in the round robin.
“They were the better team on the night. They outworked us on the night and they were far more accurate than us, so they deserved their result in that game. But we'll have learnt a lot from it."
He added: “No matter what way we analyse the game, we were well outworked on the day and that simply won't be good enough on Sunday.
“They outworked us in that match by a considerable amount. Hence, we were chasing the game in the last 10 minutes. They were quite comfortable winners really in the finish. We got a goal but it was a consolation goal.
“That’s the challenge for us now on Sunday. We’ve got to find a way of working harder than them across the 70-plus minutes and giving ourselves opportunities and hopefully taking them as they come.”
Kiely wouldn’t have expected that Clare would be returning to play them in the TUS Gaelic Grounds just six weeks later, with FBD Semple Stadium or Pairc Ui Chaoimh looking more likely.
But a surprising offer from Clare to return to the Ennis Road venue was snapped up by Limerick.
Kiely explained: “It was a case of they wanted to play in Thurles, Munster Council wanted it in Cork – we were quite happy to go along with that.
“Then the offer was made by the Clare management team to play it in the Gaelic Grounds and between the two county boards they ironed out an agreement that satisfied both parties.
“I think everybody is happy with the fixture now, looking forward to it and I think it will be a very special fixture and a very special occasion.”
When asked if he was surprised by the Clare gesture, Kiely replied: “I wouldn’t say surprised, like. I can see the thought process behind it. That was their decision, that was their request, it’s done now and it’s a case of the game is what’s important now next Sunday.”
It has been suggested that given its proximity to Clare, the venue won’t be a significant advantage to Limerick, if any at all, but Kiely insisted: “Your home ground is your home ground, no matter what. We are very proud of our record here, we are very proud to play here, it means a lot to us.
“We love training here, we love spending time here and we are certainly going to look forward to playing a Munster final here.”
Bar long-term injury victim Sean Finn, Kiely said that he will have a full hand to draw from as Limerick bid to win a fifth successive Munster title, something that has only been done by Cork, who achieved it in 1975-79 and 1982-86.
“I didn’t even know until you mentioned it to be honest with you,” he said of the latest piece of history his side is chasing.
“Listen, it is five. It is fantastic to be there. In 2013 we hadn’t won a Munster final since 1996. So, it means a huge amount to have the opportunity to play in the Munster final.
“For the lads to do that in the last number of years has meant a huge amount to them. We’ve done it all sorts of ways. Knockouts, round robins, it has been nice to do it all different ways.
“What is in the past is in the past. Sunday is what we are focused on. Sunday is what we want. We’ve often spoken about being given opportunities and earn opportunities and give ourselves opportunities.
“We never set out to win anything as such you just want to get to a point where you have a chance, where you are there. Get yourself to the final, get there by whatever means and give yourself a chance. Hopefully on the day you get your performance right for that.”
Having struggled to a two-point win over Waterford before losing to Clare, Limerick drew with Tipperary before a one-point victory over Cork proved to be enough to reach the Munster final. Clearly, they were extended much more than has been the case in the province in recent years though Kiely hailed their durability in the circumstances.
“We’ve worked hard the last four games. I don’t think anybody can deny us the position we are in because of the challenge that was brought by the four teams in all four games. It was a huge performance every day we went out what we had to take on.
“I think our team showed incredible resilience and strength to take on those challenges and maybe at times when we weren’t playing our best, to still stick to what we were doing. Do it best as we could and trust we would find a way to get out the gap and we did.
“While the games were very close, we could see the incremental improvements that were there for us as a team in our performances.
“We were honing in on how we can improve again each day. Just become a better team. If you look at our performances across the round robin, we were increasingly better every day we went out.
“For us, the last two weeks is not about any of the sideshows involved. It is about being a better team next Sunday. Putting in a better performance than we did in the last game. The boys are very focused on that.”
Recent commentary around Limerick’s physicality has been rubbished by Kiely, who described it as “a load of nonsense”.
Limerick’s physical power has been noted as one of the main attributes in the process of winning four out of the last five All-Irelands but Kiely doesn’t see them having any particular advantage over their rivals in that respect.
The Treaty boss said: “I think that perception that we were a very physical team, I wouldn’t buy into that over the last four years. I think that’s a load of nonsense.
“How is that measured? What do you do? You were 80 pounds a heavier team? What is it, like?
“I don’t see any measurement that would stack that up. I think the other teams were just as strong in other years. We were just in a really strong vein of form. I think that’s where we stand on it.
“To us, that concept of us being physically stronger than the opposition doesn’t hold water.”
He added: “All the teams are working very hard and all the teams are extremely fit and strong but I don’t believe there’s any material difference really between the teams now and a couple of years ago.
“I just think that perception is there because our lads are probably tall. We’re still tall. Being tall doesn’t mean you’re going to bully fellas around the field. It means you’ve got to work hard yourself all the time.”
READ NEXT:
Brendan Rodgers and Jesse Marsch in Celtic frame to replace Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou named new Tottenham manager on four-year deal
McGregor most influential Irish athlete on IG as he earns 58 times more than KT
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
