Next Sunday will see the long-awaited St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals, as Dicksboro, O’Loughlin Gaels, Erin’s Own, and Mullinavat return to the pitch. These matches, originally scheduled for last weekend, were postponed due to a weather warning.
While the delay disrupted the initial schedule, KCLR hurling analyst Adrian Ronan believes the extra week may have been a blessing in disguise for Dicksboro, particularly when it comes to the fitness of their star player, Cillian Buckley.
“Buckley wasn’t going to play. That was very reliable, injured, and wasn’t going to play. Will he play next Sunday? Possibly. He certainly has a better chance now,” Ronan told KCLR. “There are still very strong rumors that he may or may not. Every day will make a difference to Cillian Buckley. Dicksboro needs everybody.”
Buckley’s presence could be crucial for Dicksboro, as they prepare to face a formidable O’Loughlin Gaels team that Ronan described as “the team to beat.”
“O’Loughlins are the bar everyone has to go to,” Ronan said, stressing how vital Buckley’s availability will be for Dicksboro in their bid to progress to the semi-finals. “Cillian Buckley is vital to Dicksboro. He has another week.”
With the extra recovery time for key players, Sunday’s matches are shaping up to be even more intense. Fans can expect a thrilling day of hurling as the Kilkenny Senior Championship edges closer to crowning its 2023 champion.
For more expert analysis and insight into the weekend’s hurling action, tune in to the KCLR Hurling Podcast, available now from wherever you get your podcasts.
