Kilkenny’s final group game in Division 1A of the National League takes place this coming Sunday at 3pm in Parnell Park where they will face a Dublin side who aren’t in an awfully dissimilar position to them.
As it stands both sides are at the bottom of the table with Kilkenny just hovering above Dublin and a win for the Cats is an absolute must in terms of trying to cement a Quarter Final place.
Should Kilkenny lose then the relegation final comes calling and that is a place where no team wants to be.
There are many different possible scenarios on Sunday and the meeting of Clare and Waterford could determine who goes through. Both sides are on four points and a win for either along with a win for Kilkenny would see the Cats progress.
Should Clare and Waterford draw then it gets a little messy, but again a win for Kilkenny is the crucial thing.
Last time out Kilkenny and Tipp served up an absolute thriller and in truth the game of Hurling needed that badly.
Kilkenny have always tried to play the game the way it should be which is great for the Hurling purist.
As regards Dublin, it’s a very much changed side to what we have been familiar with as Ger Cunnigham has introduced a raft of young players while Michael Carton, Conal Keaney, Paul Ryan, Joey Boland and man more all gone.
Former Dublin Senior Hurling manager Humphrey Kelleher says it takes a while for the younger players to adjust to the physicality and speed in Division 1A.
Speaking to KCLR Humphrey says that Ger Cunningham has entrusted his faith with youth.
“I think what Ger has done now, he has adopted a new strategy of bringing in quite a lot of new younger lads so that golden opportunity of getting to two All-Ireland Semi-Finals we didn’t kick on and what Ger is doing, he has taken three if not four of that Minor panel, the Minor panel from last year now I state and has brought them in. I think it takes a while for those players to adjust to the physicality and speed of top class hurling in Division 1A” he said.
When the chips are down you always have to fancy Kilkenny and I don’t think Brian Cody’s side will slip up here.
Eoin Larkin makes his debut in the Commentary Box for KCLR on Sunday and the game is brought to you by Country Style Foods on the Kilkenny Frequency and online at 3pm.
