Kilkenny IHC Final: 'We'll have to turn up' - Larkin ahead of Rower Inistioge challenge
Stay tuned to Kilkenny Live for full coverage of Sunday’s Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Final
James Stephens (Village) manager Eoin Larkin believes the lessons learned from last year's county final defeat have helped shape the Village's campaign as they prepare to face the Rower Inistioge in Sunday's Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling Championship decider.
“The excitement around the club is great to see,” Larkin told Kilkenny People Sport.
“We're delighted to be back there again. That was the aim at the start of the year, to get back there and try and right the wrongs of last year. County finals take on a life of their own. What's gone before now is kind of irrelevant. We'll have to turn up on Sunday,” the Village boss admitted.
After dropping from the senior ranks in 2024, the Larchfield based club’s hopes of an immediate return to the top grade were stopped by Danesfort in last year’s final. Twelve months on, what has been learned?
“You always learn when you win or when you lose. We took a couple of things out of last year and tried to implement them this year. We've seen an awful lot more lads throughout the league this year than we did last year as well,” the Village boss continued.
“Everybody wanted to win last year. We made no secret about that. We wanted to get back up and win the intermediate championship last year, but it wasn't to be. I think this year the lads have really bought into what we want to try and do and they have another year there (at intermediate), another year of learning.
“They're a relatively young group so I think the experience of probably two years in the intermediate should stand to them if we're to win on Sunday and get up.”
The fixture on Sunday is also an historic one. It marks 50 years since the Village and the Rower Inistioge played in the senior county final.
“It’s amazing the way things come around and 50 years later, here we are again contesting the county final, albeit at intermediate level. But we're both striving to get back to that senior status,” the Kilkenny legend continued.
“Two great clubs. The Rower Inistioge have a great tradition and they're a great club down there through the years as well. We've always had great battles with them. They're going to be the same as us coming in, expecting to win, expecting to perform, and we have to be ready for that as well.”
The former Kilkenny forward has had to contend with injuries during his tenure as manager, with the rub of the green and some misfortune going hand in hand.
Cian Kenny and Niall Brassil are both back in contention after injury, the latter returning after two years on the sideline. However, the loss of Niall Delaney at centre-back is the city club’s latest blow.
“We all love hurling, we all love sport but unfortunately, injuries are part of it,” Larkin conceded.
“We had Cian out and, obviously, Niall Brassil for a long period of time. So, it was great to see Niall come on in the semi-final. He's put in a huge amount of work. If you didn't see what he's actually been doing, you wouldn't believe it.
“I was delighted for him personally that he got back to that stage because three or four months ago, he didn't know whether he'd ever play again. That was the reality of it. He just had to take it day by day and see how the knee reacted,” he revealed.
“You have Niall Delaney, on the other hand, who picked up an injury in the quarter-final, and he'll be out for Sunday now and possibly another couple of weeks if we're lucky to win on Sunday. So, it's tough when you miss out through injury. But, as I said before, it's part and parcel of sport and you just have to get on with it.
“Look, to be honest, Niall (Delaney) is a great lad. He's totally committed to the group, and in fairness, all the lads got around him when he got injured as well.”
The countdown is truly on now to the 3pm throw-in in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday, with the Kilkenny great eager for the wait to end and the whistle to be blown.
“Look, it's a great time to be involved. When we start out at the start of the year, everybody wants to be in a county final and, unfortunately, only two can get there and only one can win it. But it's great to be involved.
“Obviously, we're really looking forward to just getting to Sunday. When you pass those flags and bunting, you just want to get to Sunday and get out on that pitch, and hopefully the lads can perform and we can get over the line.”