Preview- Thomastown and Lisdowney kick off Leinster campaigns

With the county final celebrations now very much out of the way, Kilkenny intermediate winners Lisdowney and Kilkenny senior winners Thomastown can fully concentrate on the Leinster championship action as they get their campaigns underway this weekend.

Lisdowney will have the benefit of home advantage when they entertain Clodiagh Gaels of Offaly in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday before Thomastown make the trip to TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar 24 hours later as they face Castletown-Geoghegan of Westmeath.

It’s a new journey for both in many ways but especially in Lisdowney’s case as this will be their first appearance in the Leinster intermediate championship. They missed out on provincial action on the back of winning their only previous title during the covid season in 2020.

By the time they take to the field on Saturday, it will be just under a month since they beat Young Irelands (Gowran) in the Kilkenny decider so it’s all systems go for Trevor Fletcher’s outfit.

Like Freshford last week, it’s Offaly opposition for Lisdowney with Clodiagh Gaels coming to Noreside. Again, just like in the junior clash, the visitors will come into the game on the back of losing a county final.

The Gaels club, which is located in Killeigh on the Offaly-Laois border, were well beaten by Kilcormac Killoughey’s second team in the Offaly Senior B Final a couple of weeks ago so they will be looking to bounce back with the likes of Liam and Conor Langton being two of their main stars.

Kilcormac’s second team status granted Clodiagh Gaels passage into the Leinster campaign and with current Lisdowney boss Trevor Fletcher being a member of the Kilcormac club, there should be enough inside knowledge available to benefit the Kilkenny side.

Lisdowney will certainly go into the tie as favourites and, if they can hit the form that they achieved in the championship victories over Danesfort and Gowran, then they will be a tough nut to crack.

Brian Kavanagh, Liam Dunphy and Cathal Jordan are at the forefront in a flourishing forward division and their impact will be key once again while the likes of Mick Kenny and Niall Brennan will hope to continue the North Kilkenny club’s meanness at the back.

Kilkenny ’keeper Aidan Tallis is also key to that. The All-Ireland under 20-winner is currently playing some of his best hurling, though Lisdowney followers will hope that he has a quiet afternoon on Saturday.

Fast forward to Sunday then where a second successive Leinster championship awaits for Thomastown but this one came somewhat against the grain after they shocked O’Loughlin Gaels in the senior championship final a couple of weeks ago.

An incredible final performance, where Noel Doherty’s men beat defending champions O’Loughlins by all of 11 points, ensured the club won back to back intermediate and senior crowns in Kilkenny. However, all the evidence suggests they are in no mood for stopping just yet.

The ’Town were permanently on their travels as they captured the All-Ireland intermediate title last winter. They will hit the road again in the senior ranks as they take on Castletown-Geoghegan.

Thomastown will feel a sense of home in some ways as their opponents play in the black and amber of Kilkenny but, after winning two of the last three Westmeath titles, they will be out to take a big scalp.

Castletown Geoghegan won the most recent of their 15 county titles when claiming a 1-27 to 2-17 victory over Lough Lene Gaels.

The Westmeath side will be out to prove a point after they were heavily beaten by Shamrocks Ballyhale at the same stage of the Leinster Championship two years ago.

Expect Castletown to throw the kitchen sink at Thomastown. It will certainly be a tricky game but, with the South Kilkenny side having John Donnelly in the form of his life and the likes of Peter McDonald, Jonjo Farrell, Zach Bay Hammond and Robbie Donnelly all performing to their maximum, it’s a test they should pass with flying colours.

A win would also set up a home semi-final the weekend after next.