Lyng’s Cats are ready for action

This weekend marks the return of the Kilkenny senior hurlers to competitive fare as they face off with Carlow in round one of the Walsh Cup at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday afternoon (1.30pm).

It’s the first time the Kilkenny hurling public will get to see the 2024 version of the Cats as preparations for the upcoming Allianz Hurling League move up a notch.

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng will be down a number of players over the course of the preseason competition due to injuries, club commitments and some of the older players taking an extended break so there will certainly be an opportunity for new talent to try and stake down a claim for the upcoming season.

Lyng’s squad have only been back in collective training over the last few weeks as they embarked on a team holiday at the conclusion of the club championships so there will be plenty of rustiness to offset in the coming weeks.

“We’ve only been back since the end of November and took a break over Christmas,” the Kilkenny manager said.

“There are lads who have come back from the club campaign with niggles which need to be sorted out so there’s a lot of that ongoing, with plenty of lads rehabbing with injuries. Hopefully over the next month we will start to see them back on the pitch but for some that will take a bit of time.”

For the first time in a number of years Kilkenny will have the benefit of a full preseason behind the likes of Eoin Cody, TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen, Richie Reid and Darragh Corcoran after Shamrocks relinquished their county senior hurling championship title last term.

That will be hugely beneficial with that vital cohort of players only coming back to the squad during the latter stages of the league in years gone by, but whether we see any of them on the field in the early part of the year remains to be seen.

The league will also take on bigger importance this term with the final placings deciding the competitors in the revamped Division One in 2025 so expect Kilkenny to field strong teams from the outset in a campaign that kicks off at home to Wexford on Sunday, February 4.

Prior to their league bow, it’s Carlow on Sunday and regardless of the result they are assured of at least one more game against Wexford on either January 14 or 21 (Sunday’s result will determine this).

The final will then take place on the last weekend in January in what is set to be a hugely busy month for hurling fans in the county.

Saturday week will see both Tullogher-Rosbercon and Thomastown chase All-Ireland success at junior and intermediate level while O’Loughlin Gaels attempt to claim their first senior crown on the following Sunday.

Add in three Kilkenny schools competing in the knockout stages of the Leinster A PP Senior Hurling Championship (Kilkenny CBS, Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown and St Kieran’s) and there is plenty to keep people entertained during this cold spell.