John Kiely: 'It all hurts, it will hurt as much as it did last year'

Limerick boss reflects on their shock defeat at the hands of Dublin in Croke Park, and accepts this was no fluke - the better side won

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025 - 21:05

Tom Clancy, Croke Park

JOHN Kiely doesn’t have this feeling too often. Losing in Croke Park has only happened three times now, Kilkenny in 2019, Cork 12 months ago and now this, the most unlikely reversal against 14-man Dublin.

Only in 2017, his first season in charge, has his most talented squad failed to reach the last four. Their consistency unmatched during that period. The fourteen titles collected in that period now feel somewhat distant. Limerick are not the leading force now, the mantle will be taken up by someone else next month.

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