A NEEDLE IN THEIR HAYES TACT

Loughnane: Limerick will need to handle situation carefully but it could also spur them on

GER LOUGHNANE believes one of the most difficult situations any hurling team ever faced could actually be the impetus that drives Limerick to history.

They are chasing the fabled five-in-a-row in 2024 but, on March 20, Kyle Hayes has a sentencing hearing after being found guilty of violent disorder in an incident in 2019.

Hayes is no ordinary hurler, winning All Stars in each of the last four seasons.

He is facing a possible prison sentence — and the hearing is just four weeks before Limerick take on Clare in their Munster Championship opener.

But, no matter what happens in court, Banner legend Loughnane (inset) thinks the impact on Limerick will be a galvanising one.

“Hayes has won four Allirelands since this incident took place. Over that period, he has been Limerick’s most consistently brilliant player. He’s your go-to man in the biggest moments on the biggest occasions,’’ said Loughnane.

“Who wouldn’t regard him as indispensable?

Who wouldn’t defend him to the very last?

That’s due to his track record and to what he could do this year with Limerick.

“Whatever happens next month, it’ll copperfasten Limerick’s resolve to win the Allireland. If Hayes is with them, they’ll fight tooth and nail alongside him.

“If he’s not with them, they’ll take the attitude that they’re doing it for Hayes.

“Now they’re going to have massive motivation to win every game all the way to the Allireland. People say it’ll disrupt Limerick, I look at it the opposite way completely.

“I regard them now as way more dangerous. This will have irked them and it might be the catalyst needed to drive on to win the five-in-a-row.’’

Limerick manager John Kiely spoke in court last month in support of Hayes. It wasn’t a move that surprised Loughnane and he added: “They’re starting the League now and I expect that Kiely will make any talk of Kyle Hayes off limits for journalists or anything like that.

“He’ll go along as if the hearing wasn’t coming up, play him when he wants to play him, and continue on as normal.

“There are certain players that are indispensable. You see it in soccer — Marcus Rashford has been indulged by Manchester United. It happens in every sport.

“Even with Limerick, there was a situation with Pat Ryan that was treated differently to the Hayes one.

“There was a controversial incident on the night after a Championship game and Kiely’s response was to drop Ryan off the panel.

“He was considered dispensable, in my opinion. Every manager has certain players that are hugely important and hugely popular with the others in the squad.

“Those kind of players will be defended.

“You can call it double standards or say that it’s unfair but it’s the way life is.”