Kilkenny SHL- Clubs get set for busy period of league action

Kilkenny’s early exit from the All-Ireland senior hurling championship means all eyes will soon drift towards the club scene which kicks off in earnest on the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Over the next few weeks we will cast our eye over the various teams and as ever the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League/Championship is sure to be hotly contested.

Group A

The first league group looks especially stacked with a number of major contenders involved.

Despite only winning the Intermediate title last year and subsequently securing All-Ireland honours in Croke Park last January, there is a lot of expectation on Thomastown.

Led by county star John Donnelly and sprinkled with plenty of young talent in the likes of Peter McDonald, Zach Bay Hammond and Stephen Donnelly, the Grennan men looked to have the tools at their disposal to take the step up at their ease.

Thomastown kick off their campaign against James Stephens who, by their own high standards, had a disappointing 2023.

The Village will be led by Brian Cody for a second season on the trot and after big defeats to the likes of O’Loughlin Gaels and Shamrocks last term, they will be looking for an improved showing but hope does spring eternal after they appeared in the last two Minor Championship deciders.

On the subject of underage success, James Stephens’ near neighbours Dicksboro are leading the way when it comes to picking up silverware - and they are also the current senior league champions.

The ’Boro won all six league games last year, including the final against Glenmore, before they lost out to Shamrocks in what was one of the games of the championship.

The city side will feel that they may have left that game behind them and with the same management in tow and a talented crop of players behind them, they are still definitely one of the teams to beat.

Dicksboro’s opening league opponents are Tullaroan, another club who will be hoping for a upturn in fortunes.

Tullaroan were within a puck of the ball of reaching county finals in both 2021 and 2022 but a Liam Blanchfield inspired Bennettsbridge outfit put a halt to their chances.

With Kilkenny legend Tommy Walsh (below) now involved in the management, the 2019 county intermediate winners will be out to make a big mark.

The final two teams in Group A are familiar foes in Bennettsbridge and Glenmore.

They met twice last year with Glenmore winning the league affair before Bennettsbridge then got revenge in the championship quarter-final in Clara.

Expect another decent affair with the likes of David Blanchfield and Eoin Murphy on show.

Group B

While there’s a feeling of anyone being capable of beating anyone in Group A, the other group has two standout teams on display.

Defending county champions O’Loughlin Gaels and Shamrocks will be in line for a county final rematch in the last round of the league at John Locke Park, but both sides will be expected to hover around the top of the group.

O’Loughlins look to be in fine fettle and with the bitter disappointment of the All-Ireland final defeat to St Thomas last January banked no doubt, they are definitely still the team to beat in the county.

As well as a stacked Kilkenny contingent, the city side now have Kerry hurler Fionán Mackessy in their ranks after he made the move from his home club St Brendan’s.

Mackessy’s move came together with work bringing the Kerryman to Noreside and with his sizeable frame and notable hurling skill, he may give O’Loughlins an extra dimension around midfield.

Shamrocks are in similar position to last year where, in the likes of the Reid brothers, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody, they have the tools to beat anyone but it still remains to be seen if they can get a few more bodies back from abroad.

Of the rest, Graigue-Ballycallan will be looking to repeat a fine 2023 that saw them blood a number of teenagers in senior hurling for the first time including Aaron McEvoy, Ryan Corcoran, Billy O’Neill and Jeff Neary while Mullinavat and Clara will also look to kick on.

Erin’s Own of Castlecomer round off the 12 participants and after defeating Danesfort in the relegation final last term, they’ll look to get a few early wins under their belt in the hope of avoiding the bottom two.

It may be All-Ireland final weekend, but it won’t be long ’til the club is back taking centre stage in Kilkenny.

Round One Fixtures

Group A

Friday, August 2
Tom Ryall Park: Dicksboro v Tullaroan, 7pm.

Saturday, August 3
Bennettsbridge: Thomastown v James Stephens, 2pm.

Sunday, August 4
Inistioge: Glenmore v Bennettsbridge, 5pm.

Group B

Saturday, August 3

Gowran: O’Loughlin Gaels v Clara, 12 noon.
John Locke Park: Erin’s Own v Mullinavat, 4pm.
Dunnamaggin: Graigue-Ballycallan v Shamrocks, 6pm.