Cats get underway with Walsh Cup clash
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Dioralyte Walsh Cup
Westmeath vs Kilkenny
Sunday, 1:30pm
Breedon Kevin Molloy Park, The Downs
Christmas 2025 is now in the rear-view mirror. Our club sides have exited their various championships, and all eyes are now firmly focused on the return of intercounty hurling in the form of the 2026 Dioralyte Walsh Cup which gets underway this weekend. The preseason competition which returns after a brief hiatus gives the management a chance to look at the vast crop of players available for selection on Noreside, and that alone is a good reason to try and progress in the tournament.
Derek Lyng, embarking on another 2-year term as Cats senior boss, has added to his backroom team with the addition of Eddie Brennan and Niall Corcoran who will work alongside the Emerald’s clubman and assistants, Peter O’Donovan and Michael Rice. The most recent addition sees former Limerick goalkeeping coach Timmy Houlihan join the Kilkenny setup. The Adare man will work with the likes of Eoin Murphy, Aidan Tallis and Dean Mason as he joins the crusade to end the Liam MacCarthy drought on Noreside. The appointment of eight-time All-Ireland winner Brennan has been widely applauded and no doubt the attacking talent in black and amber will relish the input from the Graigue Ballycallan legend. Former Dublin hurler, Niall Corcoran has previously worked with Brennan, during a spell with Laois, where they helped mastermind a Joe McDonagh triumph in 2019.
Ahead of the festive period, Kilkenny had a senior challenge game with All-Ireland champions Tipperary which was held to raise much-needed funds for the North Tipp branch of Mary’s Meals Ireland. Moyne Templetuohy hosted the event which saw managers Lyng and Cahill name mostly experimental line-ups for the encounter. Conditions were far from ideal, pure winter weather, wind, rain, biting temperatures, but credit to both sides for delivering despite the elements. I wouldn’t have imagined that Kilkenny had done much training on playing with 14 men for most of the contest, but that’s exactly what they had to do, following the dismissal of James Walsh in the 13th minute. To be honest the Kilmacow player didn’t really leave Silvermines whistler Conor Doyle with any other option than flashing the colour red after a hard head-high shoulder on Ray McCormack which saw the Borris-Ileigh man withdrawn from the game. Indeed, Walsh had struck his side’s first major just a few minutes earlier to put Derek Lyng’s charges into an early 1-2 to 0-1 lead. The conditions, coupled with a numerical advantage, saw Tipp pull away after the interval, having clawed back the Cats halftime lead of five points and win out by nine at the long whistle.
The Noresiders were captained by Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Darragh Corcoran and had Eoin Murphy’s deputy, Aidan Tallis in goals. Thomastown’s Luke Connellan was in attack while Emerald’s Killian Doyle was the only other starter that would have featured in the stripes last season, while extended panel member Marty Murphy of Tullogher Rosbercon struck a lovely goal just ahead of the short whistle. It was good to see Glenmore duo, Cathal Beirne and Billy Reid get minutes, while Erins Own’s Michael Brennan and Conor McMahon also represented their club well in the black and amber.
That little taster sets it up nicely for the Walsh Cup clash with Westmeath on Sunday. At the time of writing, the starting XV isn’t known, but expect to see the manager try some players out ahead of what will be a crucial National League campaign that kicks off the last weekend of January, with Offaly the visitors to UPMC Nowlan Park. Our lads hit the road and head for Breedon Kevin Molloy Park this weekend to take on the challenge of Westmeath. Kevin O’Brien was appointed as the new manager of the Lake County side, following Seoirse Bulfin’s decision to step down after just one season at the helm. Clonkill clubman O’Brien will attempt to breathe new life into the maroon clad side, having seen them relegated to Division 2 of the league and needing a win over Kerry to secure their Joe McDonagh Cup status.
Having previously managed the county U20’s, O’Brien tasted success with his own club, having led Clonkill to back-to-back titles in 2018 and ‘19. It will be viewed as somewhat of a rebuilding job following the retirement of several experienced members of the Westmeath panel. Tommy Doyle and Darragh Clinton announced their departures while last season’s captain, Robbie Greville followed suite in late November. Raharney man Greville started out with the county in 2011 and was a key cog in the machine that lifted the Joe McDonagh Cup and went on to shock Wexford in the Leinster Championship a couple of seasons ago. Others not returning include Niall Mitchell, Aaron Craig and Davy Glennon. O’Brien knows the juvenile scene in the Lake County and had added a number of younger players to his panel, including Conor Shaw, Darragh Egerton and Josh Coll. Naoise McKenna and Morgan Gavigan are returning to the maroon and will add much needed talent and experience to the squad.
For Derek Lyng and his backroom team, Sunday’s clash with Westmeath will see them run their eyes over a number of players, as they seek to build a panel to compete in the 2026 National League. While Eoin Murphy competed in the hurling-shinty match, it is unlikely that the Glenmore man will feature in the pre-season tournament. Netminder duties are likely to be shared between Lisdowney’s Aidan Tallis and Shamrocks Dean Mason. With Huw Lawlor reported to be off on his travels, it will be interesting to see who deputises for the O’Loughlin’s man, undoubtably one of the finest full backs on the island, Dicksboro’s Padraic Moylan could well be the most suited to the role.
Another player who is likely to miss a good chunk of the season is Billy Ryan, who is also rumored to be on far away shores. The Graigue Ballycallan man had what many believe to have been his best season in the black and amber in 2025, and his energy and all action style will be missed by the Cats. Some of Billy’s clubmates could feature, Aaron McEvoy and Jeff Neary; two very capable young stickmen could rack up some minutes during the Walsh Cup. Killian Doyle and Eoghan Lyng are two others that will hope for a chance to impress the management ahead of the league.
Danesfort, fresh from losing their Intermediate semi-final, are a side that possess some quality young hurlers. Daire O’Neill, Des Dunne and Anthony Ireland Wall are a trio of talented hurlers that will be hoping to earn senior stripes in 2026. The Village’s Cian Kenny, who had a great season with club and county, could add some experience to the starting XV, and his versatility is a useful weapon. As per tradition, the captain of the Senior side comes from the County champions, so Darragh Corcoran may get the honor again come Sunday. It is highly likely that the Reid brothers will be back in the stripes in 2026, Richie may make an earlier appearance than older sibling TJ, more captain material there. Despite losing the county final to Ballyhale, O’Loughlin Gaels will no doubt provide a few bodies to the Kilkenny squad. Former county skipper Paddy Deegan, Mikey Butler, Jordan Molloy and Luke Hogan will be chomping at the bit to return to the county setup.
We will perhaps know more after Sunday’s game with Westmeath, but we go into 2026 with the hope that Derek Lyng and co. can deliver what everyone on Noreside craves, silverware in the form of the Liam MacCarthy Cup, but for now we will concentrate on the Walsh Cup and upcoming league campaign. Ádh mór to all involved with Kilkenny’s drive for success this season.
