With the dust having settled following Kilkenny’s All-Ireland Senior Semi-Final defeat to Clare a fortnight ago, and the Inter-County Hurling Season coming to a climax on Sunday (barring a replay) with the All-Ireland clash of Clare and Cork, attention in Kilkenny has now turned to the upcoming Club Hurling League/Championships in Senior, Intermediate and Junior that commence on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
It’s a sad time of the year as the August Bank Holiday weekend marks the beginning of the end of Summer with the evenings getting shorter, and with the mostly disappointing weather throughout the summer along with the county hurlers All-Ireland Semi-Final exit, it would be somewhat understandable if enthusiasm is diminished somewhat ahead of the start of The Club Championships in a forthnight’s time.
Nevertheless, with Camogie and underage competitions also along with everything else that is happening, their will be plenty of action over the next few months to keep GAA followers more than occupied as the summer season moves towards autumn.
The defending County and Leinster Champions and All-Ireland finalists O’Loughlin Gaels begin their St. Canices Credit Union Senior League campaign against near neighbours Clara, while their opponents in last years County Final Ballyhale Shamrocks will be playing Graigue-Ballycallan as they will be attempting to regain The County Championship following last years loss.
The remaining game in Group B Round 1 will be the clash of Erins Own Castlecomer and Mullinavat.
In Group A, last years League Champions Dicksboro play Tullaroan, newly promoted Thomastown play James Stephens in their opening game. Thomastown are back in the senior ranks following County, Leinster and All-Ireland triumphs.While Glenmore play last years Semi-Finalists Bennettsbridge.
The Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate competition gets underway with the Group B clash of Young Irelands Gowran and last years finalists Mooncoin.
Also in Group B in the opening round of fixtures, St. Martins and Blacks and Whites battle out against one another, while the other game of the group pits a north against south Kilkenny clash as Fenians play Tullogher-Rosbercon who return to the Intermediate grade following Junior glory that culminated in All-Ireland triumph.
In Group A, the opening round of fixtures are Conahy Shamrocks against Dunnamaggin, Carrickshock against Lisdowney and Danesfort against Rower-Inistioge.
Meanwhile, The JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior League also commences on the August Bank Holiday weekend with John Lockes Callan playing Piltown in Group A, while the other two games in the Group will see Barrow Rangers play Cloneen and Windgap provide the opposition to Galmoy in a north against south Kilkenny clash.
Two neighbours will come up against one another in the opening round in Group B as Emeralds play St. Lachtains, while their is also a south Kilkenny clash of near neighbours as Kilmacow play Slieverue.
In the remaining opening round Junior League Group B clash, St. Patricks Ballyragget are up against Graiguenamanagh.
The first two rounds of fixtures in The Senior, Intermediate and Junior Leagues will be played on The August Bank Holiday weekend (2nd-4th) and the following weekend (9th -11th August).
A two week break will take place the following weekend (16th-18th August), before resuming with matches the following three weekends.
Round 3 takes place on weekending 25th August, before the final two rounds of matches on weekending 1st and 8th September respectively.
Meanwhile, section B of The JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior League is well underway with majority of teams having played two rounds of games at time of writing.
So much to look forward to over the next few months climaxing with County Finals in October, despite the fact the nights will be getting shorter in the weeks ahead and the sadness and reality of Summer nearing it’s end.
