Kilkenny is bound for Croke Park this weekend to take on Henry Shefflin’s Galway in search of their 75th Bob O’Keeffe Cup.
The sides met already this season in the round-robin stage, playing out a gripping draw in UPMC Nowlan Park at the end of April.
See also: Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng outlines frustation after draw with Galway
While Kilkenny has injury concerns and looks to be without the services of Adrian Mullen on Sunday at the very least, eight-time All-Ireland winner Aidan ‘Taggy’ Fogarty reckons there’s a bit more pressure on Shefflin coming into the game.
“It is Derek’s first year involved, he will want a bit of silverware, there is no doubt about that. Kilkenny in Leinster finals tend to do well.”
“It is Henry’s second year and I think probably the pressure is more so on Henry, perhaps to pick up some silverware for this Galway team. He has done a good job, no doubt about it.”
“It is all about what you win. It’s all about progression as well, and if you do not win the Leinster final, or win the All-Ireland, was there progression, has the team improved? So maybe the pressure might be slightly more on Henry a small bit.”
This somewhat echoes similar sentiments made by another former Kilkenny star, Eddie Brennan. Who recently said as much in his article with the Irish Independent. The article is behind a paywall but can be found here – Pressure mounts on Henry Shefflin to deliver in Leinster
The game will be live on KCLR this Sunday with coverage beginning at 3 pm with thanks to Laharts and Gerry Comerford Drilling.
Listen back to the full interview below: