Kilkenny’s preparations for the Allianz Hurling League continue this Saturday with a challenge match against Offaly at the Faithful Fields.
Last weekend, the Cats edged out Waterford in a closely contested clash in Piltown, finishing 1-19 to 1-17. The match also saw first starts for Marty Murphy, Eoghan Lyng, Darragh Vereker, Peter Connellan, and Luke Connellan, with Billy Reid, Colman O’Sullivan, Jeff Neary, and Shane Staunton coming off the bench.
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng also brought in Kerryman Fionán Mackessy for his first appearence in the Black and Amber. The Poc Fada champion and former Kerry star transferred from his home club, St. Brendan’s, Ardfert, to O’Loughlin Gaels last year and caught the eye with a strong club campaign.
Speaking on the KCLR Hurling Podcast, Lyng shared his thoughts on the versatile player:
“We take it that he’s playing for O’Loughlin Gaels. He’s eligible to play for Kilkenny. He had a very strong club campaign. We’ll see where that takes us.”
Kilkenny will face Offaly in another preseason clash this Saturday at the Faithful Fields. The Allianz League campaign officially begins on Sunday, January 26th, with an away game against Clare, which you can hear live on KCLR. KCLR analyst Aidan Taggy Fogarty highlighted the importance of internal competition within the Kilkenny squad this season:
“I think even Derek, in the early stages, was trying different lads, and they probably didn’t hold up their hand long enough. He went back to the lads that were guaranteed, and they did very well. But definitely, that competition in training, that competition around the dressing room, that little bit of freshness by one or two guys putting pressure on others, it’s huge. It’s huge going forward.”
