As the hurling championship season reaches its climax, the harsh reality of elimination is setting in for many clubs across Kilkenny.
Last weekend saw Tullaroan and Shamrocks Ballyhale, bow out of the competition, while this weekend, more teams across the junior, intermediate, and senior grades will face the same fate.
KCLR hurling analyst Richie Power, a two-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny, shared his perspective on the emotional toll of being knocked out of the championship at this stage. Speaking during KCLR’s coverage last weekend, Power gave insight into the mindset of players when their season comes to an end.
“You know, at the end of the day, when you go back to your everyday life, you’re going to have regrets,” Power said. “You’re going to be driving down the road and you’re going to think this and you’re going to think that. But look, all you can do is try and refocus, reset, and go again. And that’s why we love the GAA, and that’s why we love championship hurling when it comes to it.”
Power stressed the importance of leaving everything on the field, emphasizing that the worst feeling for any player is walking away from a game with regrets.
“I think the one thing that you can’t have when you walk off a hurling field is regrets. If you can do that and you walk off the field and you don’t have any regrets, well, then you can go home and be happy with your performance and be happy with the shift that you put in. But without a doubt, it’s going to be a long winter.”
For many clubs, the journey to the top comes with intense highs and lows, and the winter months can feel especially long for those whose championship dreams have been dashed. However, as Power points out, the ability to reset and come back stronger is what keeps players and fans coming back year after year.
To hear more analysis and insights from Richie Power, check out this weekend’s KCLR Hurling Podcast, available now from wherever you get your podcasts.
