Kilkenny look for capital gains on bumper weekend of action in Dublin

it’s another big week on the camogie and hurling front with both senior teams heading to Dublin for crucial clashes that may define their season.

After losing out at home to Waterford last Saturday, Tommy Shefflin’s camogie outfit are under the microscope as they travel to Parnell Park on Saturday at 2pm where points are very much at a premium.

The Cats have had their championship season ended at the quarter-final stage in the last two seasons but failure to win this weekend could see them eliminated in the group stages with a difficult home game against Galway still to come.

After a disappointing display against the Deise, you can expect a bit of a backlash on this occasion and with major jeopardy ahead, Kilkenny will be favourites to back up their two victories this term over the Metropolitans but expect a tight tussle.

Looking ahead over 24 hours, and the Kilkenny Hurlers return to Croke Park for the first time since last July’s Al-Ireland semi-final defeat to Clare as they face Galway in the Leinster Final at 4pm.

The Cats are aiming to win a sixth consecutive title for the third time in their history as they face a team who will be looking to win a first title since 2018 after losing their previous three final meetings with Kilkenny.

Kilkenny’s Adrian Mullen has returned from injury in recent weeks and he gave his thoughts on the Galway challenge ahead of the final.

“Galway were probably a bit flat on the day when we played them a few weeks ago but they gave us a bit of a hiding during the league in Nowlan Park so it’ll be a different story in Croke Park on Sunday . The one thing with Galway is that they have good hurlers everywhere so they are well able to play and if you give them time on the ball and if you stand off them they will hurt you.

“It’s up to us to get ready for the game and be prepared as best as we can,” Mullen said when speaking at the launch of the Leinster final earlier this week.

There will also be Kilkenny interest in the Croke Park curtain raiser as Kildare and Laois meet in the Joe McDonagh Cup final where a prize in next year’s Leinster championship is on the line. The Lilywhites are managed by former camogie boss Brian Dowling as he looks to lead the county to a first ever success in the grade.