KEARNS’ BOYS ARE PREMIER LEAGUE..

Kelly a huge admirer of Liam’s work

He says: “I just go back to when Limerick were going well, there was huge interest around us. We were being well looked after.

“The structures were right and then that team started to deteriorate and retirements and what not. “There was no new young lads coming through because the underage structures weren’t there and signs on, look at where Limerick football is now. Bottom pile of Division Four, which isn’t a nice place to be.

“It is a shame from where Limerick was to where they are now. I’m not au fait with what goes on in Tipperary at the moment as regards structures, development squads and underage teams but I would be presuming they have foresight there.” Tomorrow Tipp can reach an eight-team Division One for the first time in their history by beating Cavan though Kearns was sceptical about the benefits of that when speaking to Mirror Sport last week. “I suppose there’s realism in what he’s saying,” Kelly acknowledges.

“It is great to get promotion out of any division but as Kil- dare proved this year, it’s not helpful to be shipping defeats when you’re up there.”

On his former boss,

Kelly added:

“Liam is a retired garda

sergeant who was in charge of continuous professional development for young guards.

“That job alone, he’d definitely have a background as regards knowing how to improve people and he’s a smart man. He’s very intelligent,” Kelly stressed.