Michael Kiely of University of Limerick during the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final match between University of Limerick and University College Dublin at UL Grounds in Limerick.
By John Harrington
Thursday’s Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final between SETU Waterford and University of Limerick should provide some encouraging viewing for Waterford hurling supporters.
The SETU team is made up predominantly of Waterford players while the main man in the UL attack, Michael Kiely, is another of their own.
Kiely banged in three goals in UL’s quarter-final win over UCD, and according to former Waterford team-mate, Kevin Moran, is a powerful target-man that Waterford can build their attack around in the coming years.
“Yeah, absolutely,” said Moran. “You forget how young he is. My last year would have been his first year. He's after developing into a serious athlete. He's a big strong guy and I remember him from the days with Liam (Cahill) a few years ago and he's incredibly quick.
“You'd be looking at the GPS afterwards and he was right up there. He's a very, very quick guy for someone so big and strong. He's mobile and his hurling is fairly good so, most definitely, I think the future is bright.
“He's leading the line for UL quite well and it looks like Davy (Fitzgerald) has him earmarked for that full-forward position (with Waterford). Yeah, he's going to be top-notch. He's a very level-headed fella and a quite intelligent fella. Hopefully he can keep the form going. The lads in SETU will have a difficult time containing him.”
What makes Kiely so difficult to contain for opposition defences is that he combines his obvious physical gifts with a ruthless mentality.
When he wins possession is first instinct isn’t to move laterally in order to create space to pop over a point. Instead he backs himself to go straight for the jugular which is why he is such a prolific goal-scoring machine.
“Yeah, he is,” says Moran. “Similar to what Stephen Bennett was like when he was playing with UL. He's trained with him over the years and he's just a goal-hungry machine. When I was in with Mikey (Bevans) and Liam Cahill they were always pushing that, to try to get the best out of Stevie and Mikey to continue to go for goals and it looks like he's taken that on board.
“He seems to be going for the green flag anytime he gets that ball in his hand and why not because he's so powerful.
“He's strong, a good runner, and his close control of the ball is quite good so you don't actually see him getting hooked or blocked too often which is always a sign of a top player.
“He's one for the present because he's performing at that level. He's doing very well.”
Rising Waterford star, Reuben Halloran.
SETU Waterford have an in-form forward and rising county star of their own in Reuben Halloran, who has scored 1-28 in three matches thus far in the competition.
A live-wire attacker who’s deadly accurate from frees as well as open play, he’s a De La Salle clubmate of Moran who has high hopes for him.
“Reuben has always been a really good lad,” says Moran. “He's a very, very friendly fella, very good in the school, and from a good background. He has a good support system there.
“From a club point of view, we always knew he was going to be a top senior club player with us. He actually got a very serious injury last year. He had a massive operation. I think he tore his hamstring off the tendon of his pelvis, something like that.
"He played club hurling with us last summer. His leg was right, but he was probably rusty. He lives up beside our club grounds, so he's always up there practicing frees, and in the gym.
“I think he's developed over the last six months, particularly. He might not be there yet, but he's up to that physical level, he seems to have got very strong - I've definitely noticed that.
“I think he'll get better. He's a very level-headed fella. He's ambitious. We're all just hoping that he continues doing what he's doing.
“He came on there against Laois the other night, and he looked quite good. Hopefully he does it for the college over the next couple of days as well. He's getting, better and better each year, a very, very skilful player.
“One thing is what position he'll play. He's good on the ball out the field. He could play corner-forward, and he's deceivingly quick as well. He's a key man now for the college and Davy looks to be fond of him as well.”
Pictured is former Waterford hurler and Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup winner with WIT, Kevin Moran as he looks ahead to the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals and Final taking place this week. This year, through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland celebrated the unexpected alliances formed between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA.
Moran worked under newly appointed Waterford manager, Davy Fitzgerald, during his first stint in charge of the Deise and believes the Clare native is the right man to get the county team challenging for silverware again this year.
“I thought it was a very good appointment by the Waterford county board. In fairness to them, they got the man that they wanted,” he said. “Liam (Cahill) and Mikey (Bevans) did a great job.
“It was disappointing when they left last summer but Davy was an ideal replacement. The team was there. He's an experienced manager, and can put his own stamp on the team.
“I thought it was a really good, smart move. He's the perfect guy to get the lads back up to speed, and back operating at the level they were last April and May. There's a lot of positivity down here with regards to Davy's appointment.”
