'What he’s done has been incredible' - Paul Kinnerk's journey from Limerick football to genius hurling coach.
Fintan O'Toole IN THE WINTER of 2010, Paul Kinnerk considered parking his burgeoning hurling coaching career.
His services were in demand. If it looked like some role was going to have to give, the Clare minor management were intent on not letting him go easily. Muiris Gavin was the attacking figurehead of those Monaleen teams, still going strong with years of inter-county football experience lodged in the bank, observing his team-mate’s hectic schedule.“It kind of just crept up on us really,” recalls Gavin of that time.
Today Kinnerk aims for his ninth All-Ireland hurling win as a coach. To date the sparkling record reading three U21 final victories with Clare, one senior with Clare and four senior with Limerick. “So that was his first exposure to it. He came in at a time of huge excitement in the club. We won another one in ‘05. He wasn’t making the team then but was still part of it.
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Brian Geary in action for Monaleen against Dr Crokes in the 2010 Munster club championship. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO In 2012 he started for Limerick at midfield in the Munster championship, proof that a time uninterrupted by injuries could see him prosper. A month later Monaleen were crowned Limerick football champions again, their most recent senior final success, Kinnerk coming on as a substitute to help seal the win over Dromcollogher-Broadford.
“In 2016 he came back late that season and again injuries were an issue but he was really motoring well by the time of the county semi-final. He got a great goal that day to beat St Pat’s. I would have leaned on him heavily around that time about planning sessions and even in big games, the match ups, tactics, game plans.
“I was asked by Mike Riordan to set up this football academy underage in 2014 and Paul was the first call I made Kiely labeled Kinnerk ‘world class’ this week in his coaching approach and how he steers the group to constantly reach the heights demanded of them in pressured championship scenarios.
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