Limerick U21 hurling manager John Kiely hopes his charges have the appetite for a battle in Pairc Ui Rinn tonight.

The Treaty County open the defences of their Munster and All-Ireland crowns with a tricky trip to Cork and their manager knows hunger is going to be a key issue for a side laden with All-Ireland winners from 2015:

"There is a certain amount of follow through because we were involved together for so long last year," he told The Limerick Leader. "This year is a different situation but I would rather the challenge we face coming from where we are, than we would if we were beaten in the first round last year.

"You would always love to have more time to prepare but we will go down to Cork happy with preparations. We have plenty guys with the seniors and that's understandable and ultimately senior is where you want players to go.

"Let's see where their hunger is at. If they bring the necessary level of hunger to Cork then they know what it takes to win.

"We respect the challenge we have - we are going down to Cork to play Cork and if we don't give them to due respect we would rue it. There weren't that far away at minor level in 2013 where they beat Clare and drew with Waterford, who went on to win the All Ireland."

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