John Kiely: 'You don't expect to be in Croke Park for an All-Ireland quarter-final but we'll take it'
It's hardly a whole new ball game but a step into the unknown it certainly is for John Kiely and Limerick on Saturday as they attempt to recover from a [url=
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41647273.html#:~:text=Munster%20mayhem%3A%20Cork%20are%20champions%20after%20dramatic%20penalty%20shoot%20out%20in%20Limerick,-For%20the%20first&text=Cork%20are%20the%20Munster%20SHC,final%20in%20TUS%20Gaelic%20Grounds.]first-ever final defeat[/url] after 16 straight victories.
In only their second All-Ireland quarter-final in his reign, agreeing to facing Dublin in Croke Park rather than Thurles can be interpreted as many things: confidence remains high despite what happened against Cork in last Saturday week's Munster SHC final, Limerick sought to launch a pre-emptive psychological blow against Dublin or Kiely is keen to make the game as challenging as possible for his charges.
Two years ago, Clare proposed handing home advantage to Limerick for that year's Munster final rather than going to Cork. Broadly speaking, this situation is similar. If Limerick can't produce in a venue where they have won five All-Ireland finals and another quintet of semi-finals, where can they?
'It's not a factor in our psyche,' says Kiely of the decision to play the game in Croke Park. 'This year, we've been to Cork to play Cork, Thurles to play Tipp, Waterford to play Waterford and now we're going to Dublin to play Dublin and that's really it. We get on with it.
'If you're not looking forward to playing a game in Croke Park, then there is something wrong. It's a great opportunity for us to get another game in there and we've a good record there, always performed there.
Limerick may use the Munster final loss as fuel going to Croke Park to face Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
'It's refreshing as well. We've been through to the Munster campaign. You don't expect to be in Croke Park for an All-Ireland quarter-final but we'll definitely take it.'
It won't have been easy for Kiely and his group since last Saturday week. He agrees that the players won't need much encouragement to bounce back after the penalty shoot-out defeat but they will require guidelines.
'We have to try and provide the scaffolding and the narrative in the conversations. As a management team, we still have to put the information in front of the players, present them with a piece of content regarding Dublin from a tactical and a performance perspective. That's going to help out guys make better decisions on the pitch.
'There are pieces there that need to be scaffolded but from an intrinsic motivational factor there is no doubt the lads are very determined to move to the next phase of the competition. We're also acutely aware of the challenge that awaits us in Dublin. It will be a very challenging environment. It is Dublin's backyard, if you like, and there will be a huge Dublin crowd in Croke Park for this game and there's no way Limerick will be able to equal it, I imagine. This is without doubt a task for us but we'll embrace it, we'll go after it and we'll work hard at it. We'll try and be the best that we can be.'
It's Limerick's first time attempting to make the All-Ireland semi-finals via the backdoor since that inaugural Liam MacCarthy Cup success under Kiely in 2018. Back then, they beat Kilkenny in Thurles at this stage having seen off Carlow in the earlier preliminary quarter-final game.
It's not a reference point for Limerick, Kiely says. 'For us, it's about starting the new chapter of this season and trying to do it in the very best way that we can. We're really trying to get the highest performance level that we can. It's a hugely important game with an awful lot at stake. We don't want our season to end on Saturday evening.'
Dublin will be primed and ready to upset Kiely's charges in their backyard. File picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Lazy analysis would suggest Dublin will be physically able for Limerick and the likes of Cian O'Sullivan will be troublesome for them but ultimately they will fall down in other departments. Kiely begs to differ. 'I've watched back all of their games and they have had really tight games. They went to Nowlan Park and really put it up to Kilkenny, which as we know from the springtime is a very difficult thing to do.
'They had a tight game against Wexford and another against Galway. Those were three extremely competitive games they were involved in and they would have been very disappointed not to have won more.'
As well as home advantage, it's Dublin who enjoy the double-header this weekend. Limerick supporters who want to take in Saturday's game and the county's Tailteann Cup semi-final against Wicklow on Sunday will have to pay almost double for the pleasure.
Kiely will be one of those in GAA HQ the following afternoon cheering on the footballers. 'I'm in contact as much with Jimmy Lee as I was with Billy Lee and first and foremost I'm thrilled with the footballers. What they've done this year has been outstanding going back to the league. The Tailteann Cup is a very competitive competition and to reach the semi-finals is a massive achievement and to play in Croke Park again.
"I'm thrilled for them, I wish them the very best and of course we would like the two games together but it's not possible for both Limerick and Dublin to have their double-headers. We just have to get on with it and make the most of it. I'll be up on Sunday to support them and shout them on all the way.'
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A huge Cavan crowd travelled to honour a team that had just given them a summer to remember. 1997 All-Ireland semi-final: Kerry 1-17 Cavan 1-10 In 1997, Cavan ended a 28-year famine for an Ulster senior title. Their U21s had won a provincial crown the previous year before going on to contest the All-Ireland final. Interestingly, Kerry were their opponents as Cavan lost out by four points. Martin McHugh, an All-Ireland winner with Donegal in 1992, had just come on board as the new Cavan manager. And after losing the 1995 Ulster final, he helped them conquer the province with a one-point win over a Derry team that had won the 1993 All-Ireland. 'Cavan had lost the first round in Ulster seven years in a row, and then McHugh came in,' Fitzpatrick explains. 'The buzz in the county was insane. 'It probably inspired a full generation. In 2020 [when Cavan won the Ulster final], they didn't get that, because obviously it was the height of Covid so kids didn't get to go to the games. They didn't have a proper homecoming or anything.' Kerry were experiencing a drought of their own in those times. They were into their 11th year without a visit from Sam Maguire. That's a lifetime in their world. And when Fintan Cahill crashed home a goal just before half-time, Cavan were 1-7 to 0-9 in front. They could have been even further in front had Peter Reilly's shot not been saved by Declan O'Keeffe. However, Kerry survived the scare and a Mike Frank Russell goal shortly after his introduction from the bench propelled the Kingdom to a 1-17 to 1-10 victory. 'Cavan lost by seven points, but really that flattered Kerry,' says Fitzpatrick. 'They added on a few scores at the very end of the game. It was Maurice Fitzgerald who beat Cavan that day. A couple mark their wedding day by attending the 1997 All-Ireland semi-final between Kerry and Cavan. 'It was seen as a disappointment, because I think even at the time, people knew it was an unbelievable opportunity. Kerry were nervy enough, hadn't won in 11 years. At that stage, Cavan still had an insane support. Related Reads 'You couldn't be happy with Saturday' - Paul Geaney gets ready for charge at Sam Maguire New kickout mark penalty to apply in this weekend's inter-county senior games How will eliminated teams reflect on 2025 Sam Maguire exit? 'There was a couple who got married that day, and they got Seán Quinn's helicopter up to Croke Park and went to the game in their wedding clothes. It's unbelievable. The place went bonkers that time.' 2013 All-Ireland Quarter-Final: Kerry 0-15 Cavan 0-9 In the aftermath of 1997, Fitzpatrick felt that the prevailing sense in the county was that Cavan had arrived. Or, to put it another way, they had returned. Cavan were a dominant force in Ulster during the early 20th century, and 1997 inspired belief that more success would follow. But aside from contesting the 2001 Ulster final, Cavan drifted. Fitzpatrick points to the years between 2009 and 2012 as being particularly grim. 'A bad culture' developed as the county became Division 3 strugglers. But then a shift occurred in 2011. A first Ulster minor title in 37 years was followed by an Ulster U21 four-in-a-row between 2011 and 2014. Some of those emerging stars lined out for Cavan when they arrived in Croke Park to take on Kerry. Among them was Killian Clarke who was named at corner-back while Dara McVeety was added as a late change. Many predicted the breakthrough would be further down the line, but Fitzpatrick disagreed. '2013 was probably as good a chance as any because Monaghan beat them by a point in the Ulster semi-final and [Monaghan] beat Donegal in the final. We're all looking ahead to the years to come and, in actual fact, that was a big opportunity.' After being diverted down the old qualifier route that season, Cavan picked up wins against Fermanagh, Derry (after extra-time) and London. They also defeated Armagh in the Ulster championship earlier in the summer. But by half-time against Kerry, they were 0-11 0-2 down. Cavan's Killian Clarke tackling Kerry forward Darran O'Sullivan in the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO They added seven points in the second half with a more spirited display but were wasteful in front of the posts. Kerry always had them at arm's length. Terry Hyland was the Cavan manager at the time, and his defensive style of football didn't suit some of the Cavan purists. 'It made sense because a bit like the current team, they were leaking so many scores,' says Fitzpatrick. 'The problem Terry had was trying to improve that style as the years went on. He went too far the other way. The supporters were getting a bit pissed off in 2013. 'A friend of mine was in the front row of the Hogan stand [for the Kerry game]. Ronan Flanagan went to take a sideline ball and he kicked it back to [Alan] O'Mara in goals, which obviously would be common enough. This ould fella in front of him, leaned across the barrier and threw his program at Flanagan. This was like a Cavan old timer who was still in the catch and kick mode.' Despite the optimism around their successful youths, the titles didn't pour in. They would have to wait until that famous Covid Ulster final in 2020. Players like Pádraig Falkner, Gerard Smith and Ciarán Brady featured along with Clarke and McVeety. A reward at last. There is some disappointment around what those players didn't win, but there is plenty of gratitude for what they did deliver for the county. 'There's huge respect for those fellas at the same time. They brought us from the bottom to Division 1. We're still reliant on probably eight lads that have 100 caps on the senior team at the minute.' Another meeting with Kerry awaits this weekend. Another instalment in the archives.
