Kerry hurling manager John Griffin has revealed that Fionán Mackessy, one of the Kingdom’s top players, is close to a potential switch to the Kilkenny inter-county setup.
Mackessy, relocated to Kilkenny earlier this year for work and has since made a strong impact with local club O’Loughlin Gaels. He helped them secure a place in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Final last weekend following a 2-17 to 1-14 victory over Bennettsbridge.
At his first press briefing as Kerry manager, Griffin acknowledged that Mackessy has been participating in strength and conditioning sessions with the Kilkenny panel recently. He noted that the move is something Mackessy has to explore.
“Obviously, at the moment I think he’s doing a little bit of S&C with the Kilkenny panel, as far as I know, and he has to explore that opportunity,” Griffin said. “I don’t think anyone in his home club or in Kerry would begrudge him that.”
However, Griffin remains hopeful that Mackessy might still be available for Kerry ahead of the National League in January.
“Part of me would like to see the best for any Kerry hurler,” Griffin continued. “But with my selfish hat on, I want the best players to play with Kerry. I’ve had a conversation with him. Obviously, if Kilkenny works out, it works out. If it doesn’t, we’ll see if the opportunity is there to come back with us.”
Mackessy has been a standout player for Kerry over the years, earning a place on the Joe McDonagh Cup Team of the Year for five consecutive seasons. Additionally, he is a two-time All-Ireland Poc Fada champion and recently defended his title on the rugged Cooley Mountains.
Currently, Mackessy is fully focused on O’Loughlin Gaels’ quest for a Kilkenny Senior Hurling title. They face Thomastown, who delivered a 1-27 to 0-12 victory over Mullinavat in the semi-final, setting up a highly anticipated final against O’Loughlins. Mackessy will have one more match to potentially secure a Kilkenny Senior title with his club before any further decisions regarding his inter-county future.
As the final approaches, all eyes will be on Mackessy’s performance as he seeks to cap off a successful season with his new club while his future with Kerry or Kilkenny remains in the balance.
