Fixture congestion looms as hurling ties reach fever pitch

After a blanket cancellation of all Kilkenny GAA activity last Sunday, the fixture schedule around the county will become lot busier than usual over the next few weeks.

Two of the four St Canice’s Credit Union SHC quarter-finals and all three of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Premier JHC quarter-finals fell by the wayside. All will be played this weekend alongside the senior relegation final and the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai IHC semi-finals.

The forced changes now mean that one of the teams in junior quarter-final action this weekend will be faced with playing three weeks on the bounce with the semi-finals and final now on successive weekends.

Section B winners James Stephens, who beat O’Loughlin Gaels in the championship final last weekend, will have the benefit of having this week off. They will be able to use that opportunity to see their prospective opponents before they move into the Premier Junior semi-finals.

Two more clubs who could also benefit from a bonus break - in contrast with possible opponents - are Bennettsbridge and Thomastown after their senior quarter-finals got the go ahead last week, with the Mullinavat v Erin’s Own and O’Loughlin Gaels v Dicksboro games scheduled for the ’Park on Sunday.

As a result of the senior double-header on Sunday, the intermediate semi-finals now move forward 24 hours to Saturday as Danesfort meet Young Irelands and Lisdowney face Mooncoin in what is a repeat of last year’s corresponding fixture as they battle it out to qualify for the county final on Sunday October, 20.

The senior and intermediate games on both days will have throw-in times of 1.30pm and 3.30pm respectively, with the semi-final draws in the junior and senior grade set to take place upon the conclusion of the O’Loughlin Gaels and Dicksboro game on Sunday.

Away from UPMC Nowlan Park is arguably the most important game of the entire weekend as James Stephens and Glenmore battle it out to maintain their status in Thomastown on Saturday (2pm).

For the first time since 2008, when Dicksboro met Young Irelands, a city club will be involved in the most pressurised game in Kilkenny hurling as the Village look to maintain their proud record in the top tier of the county with Cats legend Brian Cody leading the team on the sideline.

James Stephens’ only previous win in this year’s campaign came when they met Saturday’s opponents in the final round of the league. They will be hopeful of a similar result this time round.

Glenmore, on the other hand, will be looking to extend their stay in the top flight after beating Thomastown in the 2022 intermediate county final.

The South Kilkenny club will need to be much improved from their last outing that saw relegation favourites Erin’s Own fire five goals past them but they are hopeful of having Eoin Murphy available after injury.

The Village will rightfully go in as favourites, but with so much on the line anything is possible.

A busy weekend of hurling awaits!

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