Kilkenny Under-21 hurling manager Eddie Brennan says they need to mentally ready for the challenge of Derry ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland Semi-Final clash.
Speaking to KCLR, Eddie says Derry deserve the respect they are due….
“We have to be mentally ready for it. We have to worry about our own game, yeah we would be mindful of what their strengths are”
“It’s just about having the right focus that we treat it the same as any match. You go up there and you get stuck in from minute one”
“Ultimately, if you don’t approach it in the right way, if we are not tuned in or if we buy into some of the casual talk that might be around, your going to give yourself a hell of a problem, so it’s all about giving Derry the respect they are due and taking care of business then”
Meanwhile Eddie says he is delighted with the level of conditioning as they prepare for the All-Ireland Semi-Final clash against Derry.
Speaking to KCLR, Eddie says it was great to have almost a fully fit squad to choose from after a full round of club matches……
“Yeah it is, because that’s your worry. Your kind of just monitoring matches and hoping look once lads get through, that’s exactly it and even the message we gave to players kind of when they were going back to clubs was that they could be no minds of themselves they had to be at 110% and give it their all and we take it from there but it’s probably down to maybe the level of conditioning that the lads are”
“I mean they have trained very hard, they have given everything that we have asked of us, so in that regard, I think their is a certain amount of personal responsibility that lads are taking and what the lads are controlling in relation to their own fitness”