Duo set for rugby move after latest Limerick hurling title win

Irish rugby is set to benefit from the talent of two valued staff members who have helped Limerick to dominate the All-Ireland hurling scene in recent years as performance psychologist Caroline Currid has been linked with Johann van Graan’s Munster while strength and conditioning coach Mikey Kiely is set for a switch to Dan McFarland’s Ulster.

Champions in 2018 after a 45-year wait, Limerick have since gone on to become the most envied side on the hurling scene in Ireland and last Sunday’s All-Ireland final demolition of Cork at Croke Park saw them crowned back-to-back champions for the first time ever as they added the 2021 title to the 2020 championship they clinched with last December’s win over Waterford. 

In the process, the Limerick team have become hugely admired for their mental resilience and their levels of fitness, improvements that will now reportedly see two of their staff switch into the professional rugby scene.  

What sacrifice means to the Black Ferns

What sacrifice means to the Black Ferns

Performance psychologist Currid isn’t a rugby novice as 2009 Lions skipper Paul O’Connell sought her help during the final years of his playing career and she has now been linked by the Limerick Leader newspaper to working with Munster in the coming season in a campaign that begins with a September 25 United Rugby Championship match at home to the South African Sharks. 

Before her involvement with the Limerick hurlers, Currid worked with the All-Ireland winning Tyrone footballers in 2008, the 2010 Tipperary hurlers and the Dublin footballers of 2011. 

Top sport psychologist to work with Munster Rugby after much acclaimed Limerick hurling role https://t.co/W3lVhoZ5cA

— Limerick Leader Sport / Limerick Live Sport (@LimkLeaderSport) August 27, 2021

Strength and conditioning expert Kiely, meanwhile, has already been working for McFarland’s Ulster, splitting his time in recent months between Belfast and Limerick. Kiely was involved in the July start of Ulster’s pre-season and it’s believed he will now work with them full-time after the successful completion of Limerick’s latest All-Ireland title campaign.  

Both Currid and Kiely were warmly praised for their efforts in the aftermath of last Sunday’s Limerick win. Skipper Declan Hannon said: “The one lady amongst all men Caroline Currid, what she has done for us the last five years is indescribable.” 

Team boss John Kiely added: “We timed our return to training work and timed our push right and that is down to Mikey Kiely and Paul (Kinnerk) in terms of them setting the markers along the road of where we want to be at any given time – huge kudos to those guys because they got us right on the day that mattered most.”

The @URCOfficial have released their full fixtures list, which spans two continents, three timezones and takes into account long-haul travel, international windows and the small matter of the pandemic
??? #urc https://t.co/EpdQOoUhnh

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 27, 2021