Kilkenny club players benefit from rare break in schedule

After two weeks of hectic club action, the senior, intermediate and junior clubs in the county will have a week’s break before round three games are played. Picture: Willie Dempsey

placeholder image — After two weeks of hectic club action, the senior, intermediate and junior clubs in the county will have a week’s break before round three games are played. Picture: Willie Dempsey

The League/Championship resumes next week

The Electric Picnic might be happening across the border in Stradbally this weekend, but Kilkenny will rock to the sound of silence on the GAA front, with no fixtures until Monday evening.

Kilkenny is not the only place with this sporting hiatus as a lot of the neighbouring counties are either running a heavily restricted plan of fixtures over the next few days — or not hosting any games at all.

This break from games will be welcomed by players and management who are just coming off the opening fixtures in the senior, intermediate and junior hurling leagues.

Over the course of the five-game group stage schedule in the intermediate and senior grade, this will be the only week off with games occuring week on week all the way to the league finals which willl take place in both grades on September 14 and 15.

While the senior clubs will get a week off before engaging in championship quarter-finals, the intermediate teams won’t be as lucky, with the last eight in that competition fixed for September 21 and 22. From that point on the two grades will be run on alternate weekends before the county finals are held in late October.

Whatever way you look at it, that’s a very big ask for some intermediate teams to be on the go for five weekends straight. The strength in depth in their panels will definitely be tested to the limit with injuries bound to happen with so much intesity in such a little period of time.

The league schedule will return with the meeting of Bennettsbridge and James Stephens in Danesfort on Friday week. If the last fortnight is a reliable marker, then you can expect a big crowd in attendance.

With admission at only €5 per person for a league game and all matches being held in club grounds, the crowds have turned up in their droves to see action over the last two weekends.

The mostly good weather has had a huge contribution in this regard and after the brief time away from grounds this weekend, there will be a feast of hurling to come over the next two months or so as the business end of the season draws ever closer.