League campaign starts with Ennis trip
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Clare vs Kilkenny
Round 1, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
It’s not even the end of January, but the intercounty hurling scene returns this weekend and this time, it’s not the Walsh Cup, but round one of the Allianz Hurling League. With the traditional pre-season competitions shelved, for this season at least, we are straight into league action, and Kilkenny’s start doesn’t come any tougher – an away fixture against current All-Ireland and reigning league champions, Clare. A trip to Ennis is always nice, but you can be assured that the Cats will want to hit the ground running when they begin their campaign on Sunday (Throw-in 2pm).
Cusack Park will host the game between the two sides that contested last season’s league decider and an extremely entertaining All-Ireland semi-final, with Brian Lohan’s charges running out winners on both occasions. Kilkenny bainisteoir Derek Lyng will hope to kick-off his third season at the helm of the Cats with a confidence-boosting win over The Banner, but will know that his opposite number will be looking and hoping to do likewise.
With no Munster Hurling League or Walsh Cup to ‘blood’ players or allow management to cast their eye over potential panelists, the Island has seen a raft of ‘challenge games’ in early 2025 which have been the only avenue for giving players a chance to impress in county colours ahead of the Allianz Hurling League. For Derek Lyng and his management team, fixtures against Waterford and Offaly have been the shop window for players to grab the Emeralds clubman’s attention. With so little time, it will no doubt be difficult for some to force their way into the reckoning, but as the manager alluded to after the clash with The Deise, the door is always open and the player pool will be quite fluid, allowing those with U20 or Fitzgibbon commitments to join the panel, should their form dictate this.
As mentioned, the first outing of the year for the senior Cats saw them edge a win over Waterford at a game held in Piltown. While victories in these games aren’t the most important marker, winning breeds confidence, and the 2-point victory saw a number of players line out in the black and amber stripes for the first time. The most notable debutant was Fionán Mackessey, the Kerry man who had an eye-catching first season in an O’Loughlin’s Gael’s jersey, following his transfer from St Brendan’s Ardfert. The Powerful Mackessey opened his Kilkenny account with a point, while there were starting berths for a pair of Thomastown Connellan’s, Peter and Luke, Darragh Vereker, Marty Murphy and Eoghan Lyng. The management team were also able to field Shane Staunton, Jeff Neary, Billy Reid and Tullogher’s Junior winning captain, Colman O’Sullivan. With Galmoy’s Billy Drennan on placed ball duty, it was his 0-6 coupled with a 1-3 salvo from the experienced Mossy Keoghan contributed handsomely to the Marble City men’s total of 1-19.
The most recent outing for the Leinster champions was a trip to the Faithful Fields to tackle the Faithful County. Johnny Kelly’s outfit put in a decent shift, and started brightly and actually led by 4 points at the short whistle, thanks to a well-taken goal from Charlie Mitchell. With the usual flurry of changes for the second period, Kilkenny hit 1-3 to regain control of affairs, with Billy Drennan raising two green flags and finishing his day’s work with a tally of 2-7, while Tullaroan’s Gearoid Dunne hit an impressive 2-1 when spring from the bench and fellow sub, Marty Murphy notched 1-1 in the 19-point win over Offaly.
Sunday’s starting XV, isn’t known at the time of writing, but you would imagine that Derek Lyng might be tempted to go strong from the start in Ennis as he matches up against the Liam MacCarthy holders. The Shamrocks Ballyhale contingent have had a second winter of inactivity, while the well-represented O’Loughlin Gaels have had a quieter Christmas period than they would have liked, while this season’s senior club winners, Thomastown, somewhat surprisingly exited the Leinster SHC at the quarter-final stage, going down to Westmeath side, Castletown Geoghegan in mid-November. While it has been rare for Noreside not to be represented at the business end of the senior hurling club season, this however, could work in Kilkenny’s favour, as players should be fresher and less likely to be carrying any niggles.
One surprising move in the Offaly game was last season’s captain, Paddy Deegan starting in the forward line. The O’Loughlin’s man is as versatile as they come, but we are perhaps more used to seeing the teacher line out in the engine room of midfield or in the half-back line. Definitely one to keep an eye on during this upcoming Allianz Hurling League campaign. His club colleague, Fionán Mackessey is another that can slot in across a number of positions, and that is a useful asset for the Cats management. Fellow O’Loughlin’s men, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler and Jordan Molloy are likely to feature in Division One A, while Luke Hogan and Owen Wall will have desires on stripes also.
The rise of Thomastown, from serial intermediate team, to senior county champions will no doubt be reflected in Derek Lyng’s thinking over the next couple of months. KCLR Hurling Podcast Player of the Year and All-Star nominee, John Donnelly had a great season for both club and county, and will be a key player for Kilkenny in 2025. Donnelly really came of age in the stripes last season and much is expected this year having been nominated by his club to be Derek Lyng’s captain. Club mates, Peter and Luke Connellan, Zach Bay Hammond and former U20 star, Peter McDonald will hope to keep impressing when given the opportunity.
Former county captain’s Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody have seen some action in the recent outings, and are two talents that are vital to the Cats cause. TJ will come into the fold, when remains to be seen, possibly closer to the Leinster championship clash with Offaly, while brother Richie remains an excellent option for the Noresiders.
Former All-Star goalkeeper, Eoin Murphy is likely to be in pole position for the netminders jersey, come championship, but there is little doubt, that those with eyes on the number one spot are breathing down the Glenmore man’s neck, stronger than ever before. Murphy’s understudy for the last number of seasons has been St Lachtain’s Darren Brennan, who has just completed a phenomenal club season with titles at county, provincial and most recently, All-Ireland level. Lisdowney’s Aidan Tallis, who manager Lyng knows well from his successful stint as U20’s boss, has featured recently, while Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Dean Mason has been training well also.
One of Kilkenny’s best performers of 2024, Cian Kenny, will look to put The Village’s relegation behind him and pick up where he left off, eye-catching performances earning him an All-Star nomination. David Blanchfield, Tommy Walsh and Mossy Keoghan will bring their know-how to the side in the weeks and months ahead and can help integrate the younger players into the ‘Cats ways’.
While the Cats have lost the likes of experienced Walter Walsh, Cillian Buckley and Conor Fogarty, all winners at the highest level, there is certainly a crop of young players hoping to step up and earn their stripes in 2025. Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell and The Banner’s other All-Stars – Kilkenny will see you soon.
