John Kiely: 'There is an incredible sense of unity in the group'

By Cian O'Connell

Seconds after referee Colm Lyons' last whistle at Croke Park, Limerick manager John Kiely embraced coach Paul Kinnerk.

Another All-Ireland SHC title was gleaned by the green and white outfit.

In the aftermath, Kiely, acknowledged the sterling contribution made by everyone involved to the 2026 inter-county campaign. "It's joy, really," Kiely says.

"I'm so, so happy for the lads. To produce that level of a performance in a final, it takes great satisfaction, but it takes an incredible level of preparation.

"Paul Kinnerk deserves an incredible amount of credit for the manner in which he had the team prepared for the challenge.

"Galway bring a very difficult tactical challenge to the table. We've seen the last two games what that can look like when you don't control it or impact it in any way."

Kiely highlighted the issues Limerick focused on. "They're incredibly good on the ball, they get numbers behind the half way line, they're strong on opposition puckouts," Kiely added.

"They're brilliant at shooting from distance. They've a targetman inside, who is super at holding up the ball inside. They've so many feathers to their bow. That meant we'd a multi faceted approach trying to deal with Galway today.

"It's a credit to Paul in terms of the result we got on the pitch, in terms of how we were able to gain control of the game, keep control of the game, and limit Galway in the areas they're strongest in. That's the first thing I'd like to say, a huge well done to Paul on that. It was just extraordinary the detail he got to and how he nailed it. I'm really pleased with that."

The Limerick players application was also praised by Kiely. "For the players, they've worked tirelessly since November 15 last when we got together again," Kiely remarked.

"There was never an occasion when I was unhappy with the level of application in training. It's been incessant. We took five days off work at Christmas. Outside of that, I don't think we took anything more than two or three days at a time of a break.

"They were after huge efforts in a Munster Championship match or a Munster final, those type of situations. They've been relentless in their application and their work."

Caroline Currid's work in the Limerick set-up was highlighted by Kiely, too. "The boys are correct, there is an incredible sense of unity in the group, an indomitable one, I'd describe it as.

“Caroline (Currid) has made a huge impact in that regard, with the work that she’s done with the players since coming in. So, I have to salute that."

Limerick's durability was a critical factor too according to Kiely. The other part of that - in terms of player availability," Kiely stated.

"It’s very difficult, in an intense season like the current set-up, to keep players fit, healthy and well.

"Our medical team and Adrian O’Brien, in particular in terms of S&C, has done an incredible job over the last two years in building resilient players that are available on a consistent basis.

"Even when they do get injured, the injuries are minor and they recover really quickly from them. So, I think Adrian deserves great credit for the manner in which he has produced the team as well. Because every fourth quarter, we felt so confident in their ability to actually see it out. So yeah, huge hats off to those people.

"But most of all to the players. The manner in which they tackled every obstacle that has come in front of them this year. The calmness, the composure, the execution, the change in application from game to game in terms of the tactical approach. The energy that they’ve shown.

"We weren’t accurate all the time – 52 per cent in the All-Ireland semi-final, and we still managed to find a way of creating an opportunity. The contribution of the overall group has been just massive."