O’Loughlin’s & Thomastown titles on the line
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
The draw for the upcoming club hurling season on Noreside took place recently and the results have thrown up the prospect of many fascinating encounters. O’Loughlin Gaels are the current senior league champions, having steamrolled Tullaroan in last season’s decider to win by a 15-point margin. The Hebron Road based side had looked a good bet to retain their county title but ran into a hungry Thomastown outfit who surprised many in landing the Tom Walsh Cup with an impressive eleven-point victory.
As all clubs know, winning a title is difficult but retaining it is a big ask. In recent times, retaining the Tom Walsh Cup has been the bread and butter for Shamrocks Ballyhale, but the south Kilkenny club will be attempting to end their ‘mini drought’ having secured an historic 5-in-a-row back in 2022. With Henry Shefflin back at the helm, the wounded Shamrocks will be out to make a point in 2025 and try to claim county title number 21, which would edge them ahead of Tullaroan.
Noel Doherty’s Thomastown were top of the class in 2024, and truth be told, didn’t do themselves justice when they entered the provincial arena, but to secure a senior title in their first season back at the top table was brilliant. Backboned by a bunch of Donnelly’s, the blues played with a real togetherness, displaying hunger and desire to claim just their second title at the senior grade. A stellar season from the ‘Town saw several players included in Derek Lyng’s Kilkenny side for their Allianz League campaign. Donnelly’s John and Stephen, Connellan’s Luke and Peter, along with Zac Bay Hammond and Peter McDonald all earned their stripes during the league. Doherty is a shrewd man and will be aware that lots of teams will have eyes on Thomastown’s crown.
The current holders will get their defence of the Tom Walsh Cup underway with a game against last season’s beaten league finalists, Tullaroan. The Sash will be hoping that Martin Keoghan maintains his current form, as Mossy was one of the bright lights in Kilkenny’s Allianz league campaign, the lively attacker registering 2-16 in a team that struggled in most of their outings. Add in a few Walsh’s in Padraig, Shane and Tommy, Gearoid Dunne, alongside Dylan Simpson and John Walton and you have a group of talented hurlers that will cause many teams problems.
Also in Group B, we will see Mullinavat take on Erin’s Own. The Vegas Boys more than held their own last season, taking one or two scalps along the way and will be a handful for any opponent when the club season gets underway. The highlight of last year’s campaign was a derby victory over neighbours Shamrocks Ballyhale, The ‘Vat running out 7-point winners and hitting three majors in a deserved win. Erin’s Own exited the club championship at the hands of Mullinavat, despite a spirited performance and will be keen to get revenge when the sides clash.
The other sides making up Group B are Clara and Graigue Ballycallan, both of whom will fancy their chances of coming out on top in this encounter. Intercounty star, Billy Ryan will be a key player from the Tom Ryall Park men, but he has some good players around him including Aaron McEvoy, Jeff Neary and Sean Ryan, don’t forget, GBC were another side to claim victory over the out of sorts Shamrocks last season.
In Group A, last year’s beaten finalists O’Loughlin Gaels will begin their quest to reclaim the top prize with a tie against relegation final winners Glenmore. O’Loughlin’s will be keen to right the wrongs and get back to the top of the pile in 2025. Fionan Mackessy had a decent debut season for his new club, and with some time spent in the black and amber, the powerful Kerry native will be a huge asset to the St John’s Park side. Glenmore will hope to be more competitive in the season ahead. They didn’t really get the rub of the green last year and will do all in their power to avoid leaving themselves in a precarious position this time round. With a trio of Murphy’s Eoin, Alan and Shane, coupled with Ian Byrne and Billy Reid, such players show that the South Kilkenny side have quality in their ranks.
Dicksboro are another side that will feel their talent should provide titles. There is sterling work going on in Palmerstown and the maroon-clad side keep churning out talented young hurlers in the mold of Padraic Moylan, Harry Shine, Niall Rowe, Timmy Clifford and Cillian Hackett. Under the guidance of Michael Walsh, they have made good strides but will know that they need to start delivering at senior level. The more experienced ‘heads’ like Cillian Buckley, Shane Stapleton, Bill Sheehan and netminder Darragh Holohan will know that the groundwork has been put in, but its results that will dictate ‘Boro’s success. First up for the men from Palmerstown is a clash against newly promoted Lisdowney. Having secured their return to the top table with a hard-fought win over Young Irelands, the North Kilkenny side will be eager to consolidate and retain senior status. With players like Liam Dunphy, Brian Kavanagh, Luke Holohan, Richard McEvoy and David O’Carroll, the blue and white hooped side will enter the season full of confidence.
Two great rivals make up the Group A line-up, with Shamrocks Ballyhale and Bennettsbridge completing the line-up. As mentioned earlier, the 2024 club season was one to forget for the for the illustrious south Kilkenny club. A relegation semi-final win against James Stephens was the highlight of the Shamrocks season, but you would expect a bit more of a spring in the Shamrocks steps, with the legendary Henry Shefflin back in charge. The ten-time Liam MacCarthy winner is no stranger to the Ballyhale hot seat, having led his beloved club to a brace of county, provincial and national titles in his previous spell as manager. With the likes of Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen, Darragh Corcoran and Reid’s TJ and Richie at his disposal, Henry could well be the man to return the Shamrocks to the pinnacle of hurling on Noreside. The first challenge for Henry, will be a meeting with Bennettsbridge. The Blanchfield backed side will give any side in the county a game and will look to push-on again in 2025. With Sean Morrissey, Jason and Nicky Cleere complimenting Hugh O’Neill, and young Jack Campion there is certainly skillful stick men in the Bridge. Gaels across Noreside know all about the quality and danger that David Blanchfield possesses, while his brother Kevin is one of the finest midfielders in the county. Older brother Liam is always a goal threat and any fullback that has the task of marking the bustling forward will know they have been in a game.
Some interesting clashes lie ahead in the 2025 St Canice’s Credit Union sponsored competition. Everyone will be gunning for Thomastown’s title, Roll on the club season.
