Kilkenny IHC: 'We have hurt inside us' - Cian Kenny looks ahead to county final
The Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai IHC Final will be played in Kilkenny's UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday
James Stephens centre-back Cian Kenny has admitted there is still 'hurt' inside the Village camp after their relegation from the senior ranks last year but believes the panel is in a healthy position ahead of Sunday's Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai IHC Final against Danesfort.
"You don't deserve anything in hurling, you have to work hard for things and I'm sure it'll be a tasty fixture," Kenny told CRKC Sport after their semi-final win over Young Irelands.
"This date last year we got relegated and that really hurt us. We have hurt inside us and we're after building a really strong panel, not just a team but a really strong panel.
"From the outside it looks like we have pressure on us but we have a stern mind, we know what we want to do and we are trying our very well hardest to get back out of intermediate. We're training really hard, this date to us means a lot and for us, our own selves and own team we need to try and get back out of it," he continued.
The Kilkenny senior player, who made his inter-county debut in 2022, spends most of the inter-county season at midfield but has slipped into the centre-back role with consummate ease.
"Defenders defend and that's a nice part of the game. It's a nice position, I really like it and sure when you have good lads around you like I have here in the club it makes it a lot easier for you," Kenny added.