Punishing Division 1A league schedule in store for Kilkenny

The introduction of the split-season a couple of years ago ensured competitive games arrived on a more regular basis for teams around the country and the new upcoming Allianz League will only increase the load.

Kilkenny are one of seven counties that will compete in Division 1A this spring alongside Clare, Wexford, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

While playing the best teams in the country will undoubtedly help Kilkenny going into the Leinster Championship, the Noresiders have drawn the short straw when it comes to the schedule.

The top two teams in the division will face off in the league final and the bottom two will be automatically relegated so straight away the fare on offer should be hugely competitive, but with seven teams involved, one side will have a bye each week. In Kilkenny’s case that bye doesn’t arrive until the very last round, which is probably a disadvantage.

It all means Kilkenny will have their business done before a potential dramatic final night of action that will see the other six teams face off under the lights on Saturday March, 22 with all the games throwing in at 7.30pm.

It could be a nervous night watching on for Kilkenny supporters with potential ramifications down the line but for now all their attention is fixed on a meeting with their 2024 nemesis Clare in the opening round in Ennis this weekend (the throw-in time for Sunday’s clash in Cusack Park is 2pm).

The Banner County beat the Cats on three separate occasions last term including the Allianz League final and the All-Ireland semi-final.

It will also be the first competitive outing for the Clare men since winning the All-Ireland title last July and they will no doubt be anxious to maintain their recent winning run over Kilkenny in what is undoubtedly a very difficult first game out for Derek Lyng’s men.

As it stands Kilkenny are currently carrying a group of over 40 players and with the schedule as hectic as it is, it’s a squad that’s bound to come under pressure in the coming weeks.

Across the board, home form is bound to be hugely important with each team having three games on their own soil and the Cats have a trio of fascinating clashes in store with Galway, Limerick and Tipperary.

The Galway game takes place on the February Bank Holiday weekend and will be the first of two games in the Marble City between the two counties as their championship opener is also pencilled in for UPMC Nowlan Park, this one to be played on Easter Sunday.

Getting points on the board may be of utmost importance even at that early stage of the league with a Saturday evening local derby against Wexford in Wexford Park on February 8 bringing an end to the opening series of games.

Kilkenny and Wexford clashes have tended to take on a life of their own in recent years and with a weekend off arriving a week later, it’s set to be another big game between the Leinster neighbours.

After the break, Kilkenny have home games with Limerick and Tipperary either side of a trip to Leeside and how they fare in those three meetings will largely determine where they end up on the league table.

The final clash with arch rivals Tipperary in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday, March 9 could have an awful lot on the line and although the Premier County failed to advance from the Munster Championship last year, Liam Cahill’s side did overcome the Cats when they last met in the league two years ago.

On the squad itself, it will be interesting to see just how many new faces will get gametime with matches coming thick and fast.

As well as John Donnelly, who was named captain of the team earlier this week, county champions Thomastown will provide the services of the Connellan brothers, Zach Bay Hammond, Peter McDonald - who has been named county vice-captain - and Stephen Donnelly. All will be hopeful of making an impact.

After a big club campaign with Lisdowney, Aidan Tallis looks primed for an extended run between the sticks while in defence, the options look open with former Kerry star Fionan Mackessy, Shane Murphy, Peter Connellan and David Blanchfield among the players to have started both challenge games to date.

Adrian Mullen, Peter McDonald, Luke Connellan and Billy Drennan are the others who have started both games and with the likes of Huw Lawlor, Mikie Butler, Cian Kenny, Mossy Keoghan and Eoin Cody also getting time on the field, we should see an experienced look to the Kilkenny team when they take to the field on Sunday.

Throw-in new lads in the shape of Darragh Vereker, Billy Reid, Marty Murphy and Jeff Neary and there looks to be a good balance to the panel as it stands.

We aren’t expected to see TJ Reid for another few weeks and Eoin Murphy only recently returned from his honeymoon but apart from that it looks to be all hands on deck as Kilkenny look to get a busy season off to a winning start at the home of the All-Ireland champions.