Year in Review- Leinster Grand Slam but ultimate prize still eludes Kilkenny

It was a year that could be best described as so near yet so far for Kilkenny hurling sides after all three flagship county teams captured provincial glory before losing out in the All-Ireland series.

The minor and senior teams saw their 2025 seasons end at the semi-finals while there was bigger heartbreak for Mark Dowling’s under-20 outfit after they lost out to Tipperary in the final at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Derek Lyng’s senior team had something of a landmark season as they won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for a sixth season on the bounce and they did so in emphatic style.

It’s the third time in Kilkenny’s hurling history that they’ve achieved that feat - the seven-in-a row achieved between 2005 and 2011 still stands out on its own; the big difference being the fact they’ve also added on a couple of All-Ireland titles.

Kilkenny breezed through the Leinster campaign with decisive victories over Galway, Dublin, Offaly and Antrim and while they lost out to near neighbours Wexford in the final game of the round-robin, that clash was a bit of a dead rubber with the Cats putting out a hugely experimental side.

The Noresiders met Galway in the final for the third time in four years and like the previous two encounters, the side in Black and Amber proved too strong as they ran out 3-22 to 1-20 winners.

Derek Lyng’s men produced an accomplished display as they brought home a 77th Leinster senior title to the county, even if a late Tribesmen comeback threatened to upset the spoils.

Goals from Mossy Keoghan and TJ Reid, as well as big displays from Adrian Mullen and Billy Ryan, had the Cats leading by 13 points going down the stretch but Galway battled back bravely with Cathal Mannion almost single-handedly bringing his team back into the contest.

A second Keoghan major ultimately settled the game in Kilkenny’s favour with a semi-final clash against Tipperary then awaiting a couple of weeks afterwards.

The scoreboard malfunction, as well as a revitalised Premier County, ended Kilkenny’s championship interest in the last four as the All-Ireland wait goes into an 11th year, the most ever for any side from the Marble City.

On the underage front, there was an equally successful provincial run with both the minors and under-20s claiming Leinster crowns as Kilkenny brought home all three titles for the first time since 2009.

Like the senior outfit, the ultimate prize proved elusive for the sides led by Mark Dowling and Niall Bergin, but it wasn’t for the loss of trying.

The under-20s came into the season with a lot of potential in the squad and they certainly showed that from the get-go as they raced to round-robin wins over Dublin and Wexford.

A long break to the semi-finals had caught out Kilkenny in recent seasons but there was no stopping them on this occasion after they had 14 points to spare over Laois.

A second meeting with Dublin awaited in the Leinster final in Portlaoise and first half goals from Rory Glynn and Aaron McEvoy did the damage for the side in black and amber as they claimed a first title at the grade since 2022 when winning out on a 2-21 to 0-17 final scoreline.

Tipperary were the opposition in the final and despite Marty Murphy bagging 1-2 from play, the Premier County proved too strong with goals from Paddy McCormack and Conor Martin giving Brendan Cummins side victory in UPMC Nowlan Park.

Like the under-20s, the minor hurlers breezed to provincial glory.

A faultless round-robin effort was followed up by emphatic victories over Dublin and Galway where they scored a combined eight goals to secure back to back Leinster crowns for Niall Bergin’s outfit and they looked in good shape to kick on.

Unfortunately they ran into a resurgent Waterford team in the All-Ireland series and a three-point defeat ended their season against a side that would then get the better of Clare in the decider.

On the camogie front, there was more Leinster success for the Cats as Tommy Shefflin’s side defeated Wexford but, like the hurling side of things, there was ultimate disappointment when losing to Tipperary in the All-Ireland quarter-final.