AS HE diligently attends club fixtures in anticipation of unearthing future stars, now long-serving John Kiely continues to relish his role as Limerick Senior Hurling manager.
It was back in the Autumn of 2016 that Kiely took the reigns with the flagship county team, and recently inked a two-year contract extension.
“For me, an opportunity to go back for two more years with Limerick was something I was easily able to embrace,” he told the Irish Examiner.
“It’s still there for us – we know that. We’ve a great bunch of players and a lot of younger players coming through that are very exciting and very committed.”
As a player, Kiely won both county senior hurling (Garryspillane) and football (Galbally) championship medals.
At the weekend, pressed as to whether holders Doon or Na Piarsaigh would win Sunday’s showdown at the Gaelic Grounds, he said: “To be honest, it’s going to be a great final but put on the spot I think Doon will end a very long wait for county senior success.”
In his new role as a project co-ordinator (he is on a career break from teaching) with the McManus Family, Kiely was busy at the Munster National Racing Festival at Limerick’s Greenmount Park on Sunday.
“We ran a charity sweepstake on the National, and it was an amazing success. We were over-subscribed, and I would hope it will continue into the future.
“As for our winners, Down Syndrome Limerick were so, so happy with the outcome (Real Steel/Eric McNamara/Danny Mullins) and the prize of Є20,000.”
