John Kiely: 'Embrace the Munster jeopardy,' as Limerick 'debunk' end of era talk

Irish Daily Mirror

a day ago

John Kiely is against four teams coming out of the Munster Championship, saying counties have to 'embrace the jeopardy.'
Kiely also says the narrative that last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Cork was the end of an era for his Limerick side has been proven wrong.
'Maybe that narrative is out there, or was out there,' said Kiely. 'I think that narrative has been debunked now so yeah, that's it.'
Kiely's men are going for an historic first ever Munster seven-in-a-row when they face Cork at the Gaelic Grounds next Saturday evening in what promises to be a magnificent occasion.
But with All-Ireland champions Clare and Waterford exiting the competition a fortnight ago, and Waterford bowing out last Sunday - both before the end of May, the cut throat nature of the Munster Championship has come into focus again.
However, Kielty is against four teams coming out of the province.
Speaking about Waterford, who have yet to get out of the Munster round robin in six attempts, Kiely said: 'It's tough. It is tough. They haven't come out of it yet. It's very, very tough on them.
'They've made great progress this year. Peter has done really, really well. I suppose you just have to keep going back, keep going back and eventually you will get the breakthrough.
'Look at Tipperary last year, where they were bottom of the group and this year they have turned it around. They have got five points on the board.
'Three teams tied with five points so only score difference separated the three teams in the group at the top. It can be done.
'Do I think putting four teams out is going to improve it? I don't. I think it will actually diminish the importance of the games. There's great jeopardy there. It is tough, but it's a good tough.
'When you love sport, you want to be involved in competition that has incredible standards, incredible competition, incredible rivalries and real jeopardy.
'That's what the Munster Championship has and that's why it's so special, and that's why the crowds are turning out.
'So we have to embrace the jeopardy with the desire to get out, that's my opinion.'
Meanwhile, Kiely says the price hike for stand tickets for the Munster Final, which are now €50, having increased from €40 in 2023 to €45 in 2024, is part of 'a big hit' for families. Terrace tickets are €40.
The student and OAP discount is only €10, meaning they will play €40 for stand tickets, while juvenile tickets are now €10.
Kiely said: 'Listen, sure supporters are never going to be happy with a price hike in tickets. It's a big commitment to be a supporter in the first place and they are going to league matches.
'They are going to all the Championship matches and there's a lot of those matches in a short period of time.
'I think that's the biggest piece really, is the fact that we are coming off the back of four round robin games and now we are into the Munster Final and it's all happening in the space of seven weeks. It's a lot of expense in a short period of time.
'People are looking towards the summer, looking towards summer holidays, kids going away on summer camps - all those kinds of things.
'So it's just an added expense on a family where you are trying to bring two adults and two or three kids to the match and it's going to cost you a nice few quid to go.
'I think that's the big piece. If the season was more stretched the expense is spread out as well with it.
'That's maybe something that needs to be taken into consideration, that it's a big hit for families all at the one time.
'People haven't been giving out to me about the price of the tickets too much. It's more about getting your hands on one that is the biggest problem at the moment.
'I think we are going to have a fantastic occasion here (the Gaelic Grounds).'
Kiely says the onus is on the Munster Council to explain where the additional revenue will be spent.
'I think the onus maybe goes back on the Munster Council now. Ultimately they are the ones who are gathering this additional revenue.
'I think maybe in the course of the next 12 months they need to make it reasonably clear to everybody what the additional revenues went towards.
'I think that would be something that would be very much appreciated by the paying public, to know that that money is being put to very good use right across the Association.'