All you need to know ahead of Round 4 in the Kilkenny Hurling Championship

The Kilkenny senior, intermediate and junior hurling leagues are nearing their conclusion with the penultimate round of action taking place around the county this coming weekend.

As it stands just Thomastown and O’Loughlin Gaels remain undefeated in the senior grade and a possible county final rematch in the league decider looks pretty likely as we stand.

Thomastown only need one win in their remaining two games against Clara and Graigue-Ballycallan to confirm their place at the top of Group B in the St Canice’s Senior Hurling League. While O’Loughlins still have a job of work ahead of them against Shamrocks this Saturday and Bennettsbridge in the final round, they look like the realistic opposition in the early season final.

The real pressure points are further down the two groups with Bennettsbridge and Lisdowney in most danger for a relegation battle in Group A while it’s a dogfight in Group B to avoid falling into the bottom two with Clara, Erin’s Own, Graigue-Ballycallan and Mullinavat all still fighting for valuable league points.

The Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League has been equally as exciting though it may not be a surprise that James Stephens are the only ones to have won all three of their league games.

The Village have bounced back well from last year’s senior relegation though they should be tested in their final two group stage games against Dunnamaggin and Mooncoin.

As well as the city side, Danesfort are the other unbeaten team with their draw against Gowran last weekend their only black mark thus far and that’s even without former Kilkenny star Richie Hogan.

Like senior, avoiding relegation is arguably the main aim of a lot of clubs at this level but some of that business is nearly already done with St Martin’s and Blacks and Whites all but destined to be in the final two places in Group A while Fenians also look like they are in a battle to avoid the drop as they sit pointless in Group B.

It’s All-Ireland junior club champions St Lachtain’s that currently occupy the other relegation battle-threatened spot above Johnstown but Carrickshock, Young Irelands and Rower Inistioge could all still be dragged into a basement battle.

The junior grade is free from the relegation trapdoor but there’s still plenty of interest at the top end with Conahy Shamrocks and Graignamanagh making the early running as they sit top of their various groups.

This weekend is the last in the four week block and most if not all managers will be delighted to get a break into their squads ahead of the league deciding week on September 6/7. With injuries mounting around the county it’s been a very testing time for all those involved.