Limerick boss John Kiely said he never doubted his charges after they stormed to an 11-point victory over Cork.
Their emphatic win was the second biggest defeat ever inflicted on the Rebels at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Championship hurling as Limerick fired out a warning after a League campaign in which they failed to record a victory against top tier opposition.
Kiely said that after resuming training later than most in January, their performances were always likely to be compromised as they played catch-up.
He said: “I see them on a Tuesday and a Friday where people see them on a Sunday. We knew the effort and the energy was there on a Tuesday and a Friday when we came back in January.
“We did struggle to keep that energy flowing for the full week every week and at times we didn’t get the energy exerted out of the group as a whole on a Sunday during the spring that we would like to have had.
“It just wasn’t there because we had a block of work to do during the week to get prepared for the championship. It was just the price we had to pay, really.
“We were still disappointed with our performances but we wouldn’t at any stage have been in any doubt about what this group are still capable of producing when they get the energy like that on the pitch.
“But, listen, it’s still only round one of a round robin. There’s a long way ahead yet so listen it’s on to next week and the Gaelic Grounds. I think we owe the Gaelic Grounds a better performance this time around than what we’ve given over the last number of weeks. Looking forward to getting that.”
Waterford will be the visitors next Saturday evening having come from behind to see off Tipperary at Walsh Park in what will be, for many, a clash of the two frontrunners for this year’s All-Ireland.
Kiely continued: “It’s going to demand a lot of energy; that’s for sure. They’ve been hip-to-hip with us now for a couple of years. They’re a fine side. We’ve great respect for them as a group.
“The onus is on us within our group is to bring the greatest amount of energy we can next Saturday evening and to look for further improvement. We had 16 wides today and that’s too high. We have to be more efficient in our shooting. There’s a piece to go after there this week.
“There are a few line breaks we have to go back and look at again to make sure they don’t happen again. We turned over a few balls because we didn’t make the right decision so the decision making has to sharpen up.
“Hopefully the game today will bring that on; our decision making will improve and our shooting efficiency will improve. It has done in the past. Each year we’ve improved it as the championship has proceeded.
“But yes, we’re expecting a massive challenge next Saturday.”
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