Home All-Ireland loss remains a big regret for Kilkenny Minor Hurlers

It proved to be something of a mixed year for Kilkenny underage sides and while there was ultimate disappointment for the minor and under-20 teams, there was still something to cheer with the Celtic Challenge and under-19 outfits bringing home silverware.

Niall Bergin took charge of the Kilkenny minor team for a third season and initially there was huge promise with a number of youngsters really standing out.

A devastating 4-24 to 1-14 win over Galway on the first day out was a real positive for Kilkenny followers as, up to then, the Tribesmen had a real upper hand on the Cats at the grade including winning a trio of All-Ireland finals in recent seasons.

Jake Mullen, Bill McDermott and Patrick Lacey were three stars to really show their hand in that Leinster opener but Kilkenny’s form then fell away a bit as they lost to Wexford and Dublin in the following two round-robin clashes.

Remarkably, the Cats then ended up finishing bottom of the four team group and as a result they were forced into a potential banana skin away to Kildare after the Lilywhites had topped the tier two group.

The home side put it up to Kilkenny for long periods but a Jake Mullen haul of 1-5, as well as further second half goals, allowed the side in black and amber to claim a comfortable win in the end.

A rematch with Galway then arrived in the semi-final and like the first game, Kilkenny emphatically cruised to another big win with Jake Mullen and Ollie O’Donovan getting two goals each in a double scores success.

A second successive Leinster final awaited but unlike in 2023, there was a more positive result as the Noresiders secured a 1-13 to 1-9 victory over Dublin to seal an automatic spot in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In similar fashion to the county’s exploits at senior level, Kilkenny and Clare met in the last four for a second successive season. Unlike the Banner County’s senior win in Croke Park, it was the Leinster champs who emerged on top as they claimed a thrilling win after extra-time in Semple Stadium.

The final threw up the meeting of arch-rivals Kilkenny and Tipperary and after agreeing to toss for a home venue, it was Nowlan Park that came out on top as over 13,000 spectators enjoyed a thrilling contest.

Things looked to be falling in Kilkenny’s favour when the Premier County had two players sent off in the first half, but despite Anthony Clifford, Bill McDermott and Robbie Doherty netting goals for the Cats, the resolve and character of their opponents proved difficult to match as they secured a second minor crown in three seasons, both titles arriving in the Marble City.

The under-20s also made a bright start to the year with big displays against Wexford and Laois but, after a long break, their campaign came to an end at the Leinster semi-final stage when a raucous Tullamore crowd and Adam Screeney inspired Offaly to a big midweek victory.

It was a disappointing end for Mark Dowling’s talented side but with the likes of Jeff Neary, Marty Murphy, Niall Shortall, Killian Corcoran, Gearoid Dunne and Cillian Hackett, there is huge optimism for the future.