The main contenders as the race to be Kilkenny hurling manager heats up

The race is on to b e the next Kilkenny senior hurling manager with a number of contenders in the running to take over from Derek Lyng in the next few weeks.

The tradition of picking the top man for the job from within the county looks set to continue and it’s a decision the County Board needs to get right no matter how long it takes.

If this decision had come about a couple of years ago then Henry Shefflin may have been the onlyname on everyone’s list after his successful first term in charge of the Shamrocks which saw him bring home two All-Ireland club titles. The Kilkenny hurling legend then took over in Galway and, rightly or wrongly, he came in for a bit of criticism in accepting the job. It didn’t go how the 47 year-old would have planned as the Tribesmen fell to two Leinster final defeats at the hands of the Cats.

Read Next- Kilkenny clubs to have their say on appointment of new senior hurling manager

Former Kilkenny star Eddie Brennan is another one that will certainly come into the reckoning after a previous stint with Laois and the Kilkenny under-21s as well as a couple of good years in club management in Tipperary. The Graigue-Ballycallan man was also involved as the forwards coach with the Kilkenny team during this campaign and it’s hard to know if that will end up being a positive or negative considering how the year transpired.

Brian Hogan is another Kilkenny stalwart that will be in the race for the top job after serving as a selector under Henry Shefflin with this year’s under-20 side. He also comes with an impressive club CV after leading O’Loughlin Gaels to the All-Ireland final on the back of county final success in 2023.

Outside of the Kilkenny system, two names very much on the lips of supporters in the county are Brian Dowling and Tom Mullally with Dowling in particular very much in the shop window. He led Kildare to Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh cup victories in successive seasons as well as being very competitive during this year’s Leinster campaign as he led the Lilywhites to heights they’ve never seen before.

Tom Mullally is more of an outside bet, though the Glenmore native’s success with Mount Leinster Rangers, Clara, Carlow and Naas speaks for itself.