*Tom Morrissey holds off Diarmuid Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
LIMERICK boss John Kiely felt his side could have wrapped up Sunday’s Munster Final “a bit earlier” but expressed immense satisfaction to have overcome a battling Banner side.
It was a contest between “two very honest sides that go at each other in every sense of the word. There was no quarter asked or given. It was a very honest performance from both sides and the game could have gone any way. I think our experience pulled us through at the finish and we were able to find those scores”.
That was the immediate reaction of John Kiely when reflecting on Limerick winning their fourth senior provincial title in a row. “We started really really well in extra time, we maybe could have put the game to bed a bit earlier. Against this Clare team you are going to earn every single score, they work really really hard. They are full of energy, we are thrilled with the result”.
Scoring a goal in the opening half was critical, he noted. “Gearoid Hegarty’s goal was vital, it kept us in tow. It closed the gap and helped us to a bit of a lead, the goal was absolutely crucial. Look every score out there mattered today as we saw with Tony’s sideline score. It was a tremendous battle. Credit to both sides, they worked really hard and I am super proud of my guys. They have huge work put in over the last number of years. There are four weeks now to the semi-final and we are damn glad to have won today and be in the semi-final”.
“Seamus Flanagan’s performance was massive. He would have been disappointed with his performance in Ennis the last day when he struggled to get on ball. He had a broken thumb and was out for a number of weeks. The game is so fast and inside in the full forward line your touch has to be immaculate to control the ball. It was going to take him a game or two to gets to the pitch of the game .All credit to him today he worked really hard as did everybody”.
Kiely stressed “this was a full group effort today and I am very proud of the lads. We defended really really well. Overall I am really happy with the way we defended, we got great numbers behind the ball, When the ball went in behind our line, there was always somebody covering the back door. As the game went on we got better”.
Asked about the occasion he said “the Munster final is a huge day, this was a particularly great one for us. That was seriously tough going”.
