Club action set for big kickoff in Kilkenny
The league commences this evening
After a disappointing intercounty season that saw Kilkenny exit the championship at the semi-final stage, all eyes will switch to club activity when the senior, intermediate and junior hurling leagues begin this weekend.
Defending senior league winners Dicksboro will get the ball rolling when they face Tullaroan in a cracking opening round fixture in Tom Ryall Park on Friday, with games continuing all through Saturday and Sunday until the clash of Glenmore and Bennettsbridge concludes the senior fare in Inistioge.
Thomastown’s return to the top tier in Kilkenny and O’Loughlin Gaels’ senior championship defence are just two of the stories that will unfold in the coming weeks as clubs look to make their mark with big crowds expected around the county.
The intermediate grade also gets underway on Friday with an equally appealing opening fixture as 2023 beaten county finalists Mooncoin face a Young Irelands team that shocked a few people in last year’s campaign.
Thomastown’s championship success last term has opened the door for a lot of clubs in the second tier and the majority of the 12 clubs involved will think they have an opportunity to reach UPMC Nowlan Park for the latter stages of the campaign in the next few months.
The O’Loughlin Gaels second team’s relegation from intermediate last year means the county’s top junior grade has a more equal balance in 2024 with Kilmacow, Emeralds, Slieverue, St Patrick’s, Graignamanagh, St Lachtain’s, John Lockes, Piltown, Barrow Rangers, Cloneen, Windgap and Galmoy among the teams hoping to claim the Bob Aylward Cup.
The ticket details for all league games are as follows:
Admission: adults €5; pensioners free on production of Travel Pass Card; under-16s free; Club+ season ticket holders free with a printout or screenshot confirming their Club+ season ticket.
A number of games will also be streamed in the coming weeks with Clubber TV going into its second season as rights holder to the Kilkenny hurling championship as it continues its in-depth coverage in the county alongside the likes of Kerry, Tipp, Laois, Louth, Offaly and Monaghan among others.