‘Devastation’ – Limerick boss John Kiely reacts to Peter Casey horror injury and promises: ‘We will look after him’
Tipperary manager Lima Cahill with his Limerick counterpart, John Kiely, after the game
Limerick's Peter Casey is treated to on the pitch after his horror injury. Photo: Sportsfile
John Kiely has expressed “devastation” for Peter Casey after the Limerick hurler was stretchered off with a serious ankle injury that has almost certainly ended his season.
Casey had just scored Limerick’s second goal, crowning a sparkling performance from the 2021 All-Star, when a coming-together of bodies left him with a gruesome-looking injury.
After a lengthy hold-up, this lopsided Munster SHC round-robin clash played out in a subdued atmosphere in front of 33,474 spectators at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick’s 2-27 to 0-18 demolition job leaves the four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions in the box seat to qualify from Munster’s so-called group of death, whereas Tipperary are already on the back foot after this demoralising setback.
But Limerick boss Kiely was primarily concerned for his stricken forward, who had already been removed to hospital when he met the media afterwards.
“It’s Jekyll and Hyde, isn’t it? Devastation for Peter and his injury and, sure, nobody wants to see anyone get injured on any team,” he said.
“These boys all put in a huge, huge shift and it doesn’t matter what team it is, but he is one of ours. Obviously, it is a significant injury. We will look after him the very best we can and make sure he gets the best of treatment.
“Listen, he’s come back from a serious [cruciate] injury before and come back very strong. I have no doubt Peter has the capacity to do that again.
“We would rather he doesn’t have to do that. It hurts, it hurts the group very much to see that has happened.
“We will support him, we will rally round him and give him every assistance we can. For the group, it’s a case of move on.”
Casey had already struck 1-2 from play when disaster struck – he was later named as RTÉ’s Man of the Match, with skipper Declan Hannon accepting the award on his behalf.
“He’s just an incredible talent,” Kiely declared. “He can do it in the air, he can do it on the ground, left and right. He’s got a fantastic hurling brain, and he’s just been a real fillip for us in the group and has stacked up some great plays for us down through the years.
Limerick's Peter Casey is treated to on the pitch after his horror injury. Photo: Sportsfile
“I look forward to see him take the pitch for us, further down the road.”
His opposite number, Liam Cahill, admitted there will “have to be consequences” after such a poor performance.
“Some players, it just didn’t run for them and they’re going to have to make way for the next fella to give them a chance,” the Tipperary boss admitted.
And looking forward to Saturday’s Walsh Park showdown with his former Waterford charges, Cahill added: “We’ve to bring everything that wasn’t there today. We need to bring massive energy and aggression. Waterford are a very athletic team. Up to 18 months ago, they were branded as the second-best team in the country. Their former manager [Derek McGrath] said whoever beats them goes up the steps of the Hogan Stand. That’s the reality of it.
“The same said person I haven’t heard sign nor light of him for the last 18 months, but that’s there, it’s in print. They are a serious team, and the players seem to have found their style that really suits them. And had it in an All-Ireland final, semi-final, National League title. They’re hurling on all cylinders. We’ll just have to be really ready to take them on.”
