Kilkenny star David Blanchfield is looking to channel hurt into new hurling season

The clock has turned to the new year and it won’t be long until the Kilkenny hurlers are back in competitive action.

The Cats open a new-look Division One campaign away to All-Ireland champions Clare at the end of the month but for David Blanchfield, defeat to the same opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park last July is still a tough one to swallow.

“We played well in the first half from what I remember and the second half didn’t really go our way and unfortunately Clare were able to get over the line in the end,” he said.

“We’ll just have to reflect on it and learn from it and look forward to 2025 and hopefully bring the hurt from that dressing room and go at it hard over the next few months. Hopefully we won’t have that feeling again.”

After reaching the previous two All-Ireland deciders with Limerick, the Cats appeared to be the side best positioned to benefit from a slip up by John Kiely’s men but Clare proved to be a real thorn in the side for the Noresiders.

Not only did the Banner strike late to deny Kilkenny in that All-Ireland semi-final on their way to reclaiming the Liam MacCarthy Cup, but they also dethroned the Leinster side in the league final earlier in the season.

“No matter who won the All-Ireland, after we got knocked out was going to hurt regardless and it’s definitely tough for a few days or a few weeks,” Blanchfield continued.

“It will always hurt and it will always be kind of in the back of your mind. We aren’t forgetting about it, but we just have to learn from the experience and bring it in to the new season.”

The 24-year-old Bennettsbridge star has had his fair degree of setbacks and disappointments in the black and amber jersey, a run which included missing out on the 2023 All-Ireland final after a lung issue ruled him out of the biggest game of the year.

“I got injured at the end of the semi-final with Clare and missed out on the final but then again you have to think more of the team and what’s best for them,” he said.

“Fifteen lads still lined out that day and we’d a good strong panel that we had full faith in when there are injuries or setbacks. That’s just the way it is, but it was still difficult.

“It was tough watching on as you’d wonder to yourself could you have helped and stuff, but I’d full trust in the lads and my teammates and it just didn’t work out for us on the day.”

The season just past was when the giant defender really made a mark on the starting Kilkenny team and was arguably their best player of the season. He was one of four players alongside Huw Lawlor, John Donnelly and Cian Kenny nominated for All-Stars but while he missed out he insists winning individual awards is not high on his agenda.

“I suppose I was happy enough to be nominated but then again it was down to a team effort - I’d much rather win an All-Ireland than an All-Star to be honest as it’s a team game and not about an individual,” he added.

“It’s always nice to be nominated and we’d a great night up there, but we’d prefer if there was a few more Kilkenny lads along with us.

“Hopefully we can get a few more this year and get over the line at the business end of the championship.”

The former St Kieran’s College student has really made the number five jersey his own over the last 12 months and while he’s dabbled with playing centre back and even further forward with Bennettsbridge, he feels very much at home in the half-back line where his attacking instincts seem to flourish.

“I don’t really mind where I’m positioned to be honest. I play at wing-back for Kilkenny and in at centre-back for the club and I’d be comfortable enough in either position or even around the midfield area.

“As long as I’m in the starting 15 I’m happy as it’s always an honour to put on the Kilkenny jersey and you just do your best and hope it works out.”

Despite only approaching his mid 20s, Blanchfield could be seen as one of the more experienced heads in the Kilkenny setup as gets ready for a fifth season with the senior side. With the likes of Walter Walsh, Conor Fogarty and Cillian Buckley all retiring in the off-season, it’s a squad that is getting younger each year.

“A lot of big personalities and big characters are now gone from our squad and they will be greatly missed both on and off the field,” he said.

“They really drove the standards through the roof since I joined the squad and I’ve learned a lot from them, but the new season will offer the chance for other lads to step up - that’s what you want in a group and a panel.

“Every year you have fresh faces coming in but we still have a good bit of experience and we feel like we are nicely balanced as a squad but you never know what will happen over the next while so we have to be ready for that too.”

Blanchfield and the rest of the Kilkenny squad resumed collective training last month and with no Walsh Cup to get stuck into, all eyes will be fixed on the league.

“It’s good to be back in training and the foundations are being laid down for the season ahead in terms of running and fitness which is not easy but it has to be done at the same time,” he said.

“The league is not too far way and it’s only around the corner really so we don’t have much of a break and we are looking forward to that.”

A new league structure will see the Cats have seven Division One games with the likes of Limerick, Galway and Tipperary all coming to the Marble City in the spring and having a condensed run of fixtures is something Blanchfield is in favour of.

“There is nothing better as a player than having games coming at you week in and week out so we can’t wait for it,” he said.

“The league is going to be different alright this year and it will be very competitive with no easy games. It will be tough for those few weeks and maybe that’s what we want as it will definitely get us ready for the Leinster Championship.”