Carlow and Kilkenny open their Leinster U21 hurling accounts tonight.
Kilkenny head for Cusack Park in Mullingar where they face Westmeath at 7.30pm while Carlow entertain Laois at Netwatch Cullen Park at the same time.
Kilkenny have only won one Leinster under 21 title since 2009 however there is some optimism with the introduction of former Kilkenny hurler Eddie Brennan as manager.
Westmeath enjoyed a productive year at minor level in 2015, while in the under 21 grade the midlanders’ gave Dublin a serious fright in 2014.
The Kilkenny team has been named for that game and is as follows……
In goals….
Darren Brennan
The full back line is…..
Evan Cody
Conor Delaney
Huw Lalor
The half back line is….
Pat Lyng
Jason Cleere
paddy Deegan
Midfield is…..
Conor Browne
Eoin Kenny
The half forward line is…..
Liam Blanchfield
Sean Morrissey
Niall Mullins
The full forward line is…
Billy Ryan
Alan Murphy
John Walsh
Subs
Daragh Holohan
Ryan Bergin
Robbie Fitzpatrick
Kevin Blanchfield
Conor Hennessy
Andy Gaffney
Tom Phelan
Ciaran Ryan
Adrian Burke
Kilkenny Under-21 hurler James Maher says they are not looking beyond the challenge of Westmeath in tonights game.
James is currently sidelined as he continues to recover from an injury sustained in a work accident, but speaking at the launch for the Leinster Under-21 Championship, James says that the Midlanders should not be taken lightly.
This time last year Carlow got the better of Laois and then ran Kilkenny close in a fantastic Leinster Semi Final.
The winners face either Kildare or Offaly in the penultimate round so there is a good opportunity for all of those teams to reach a Leinster final.
