Former Kilkenny stalwart Eoin Larkin highlights two current players as standouts

Kilkenny came out of the blocks to put a stop to Dublin fans’ optimism after Mattie Kenny’s side strung together some impressive performances recently.

The Cats ran out 2-23 to 0-16 victors, crushing Dublin’s undefeated campaign, which also included a Walsh Cup. Was Dublin poor, or was Kilkenny just great? We caught up with Eoin Larkin to get his perspective on the game;

The James Stephens club man, who stepped away from the inter-county scene in 2016 with 8 senior All-Ireland hurling medals in his back pocket, was impressed by the performance as a whole. Speaking to Scoreline.ie Full Time show he said;

“Going up to Dublin last Saturday evening, most people probably expected Dublin to put in a performance and beat Kilkenny. Kilkenny had a really good day and Dublin had a poor day. The weight of expectation gets to Dublin, when everyone expects a performance they invariably let you down, and that is what happened. “

“Take nothing away from the Kilkenny performance though, they were very good on the night, they took their scores well. From a very early stage, you could see they were up for the game. We are still waiting on some Shamrock lads to come back into the fold, a couple of injuries to come back as well. They are in really really good shape coming into the end of the league, so hopefully, they will kick on.”

Stand Outs

As armchair pundits, we love being able to identify who has been the shining stars in a game, but it is always nice to get the thoughts of someone well versed in the inner workings of county hurling. Larkin was able to provide insight into what players have impressed him recently, with one club mate and a rival standing out above all others;

“I’m probably biased when I say this but Cian Kenny has really stood up to the plate. A young guy from my own club (James Stephens), I have seen his development and the potential that has been there over the last number of years. Probably his size is not what you expect from an intercounty hurler, but he has such a good hurling brain, he has all the skills in the world. I think he has the attitude, which is a massive part of it.”

“Along with him, Huw Lawlor was very very good the other night as well. Since he has come into the Kilkenny panel he has really improved his game. He has probably solved a problem at full back, something we needed to solve over the last few years. if we could get another fullback we could use Huw’s strengths at centre-back, which I think Brian would like to do but can’t at the moment. Really over the last number of years, I can not remember him having a bad game, which is a really good sign he is up for the challenge.”

Attitude

Brian Cody spoke after the game crediting the attitude of his players as being top class. It was fairly noticeable from the start Kilkenny was up for it and Larkin knows that’s what Cody expects every time, staples of his sides;

“The hurling comes after you have the mindset and attitude right. From the early stages of the game, you could see the body language and attitude were spot on. Brian has always stated that, if you can get those things right, the hurling would always follow.”

“Having said that we need to find another one or two. Once the Championship starts, we are probably down the pecking order in regards to being favorites for the All Ireland. That never bothered a Kilkenny team before in the past and it won’t bother Brian Cody.”

Dynamic

TJ Reid has been absent due to the Club All Ireland and then his delayed honeymoon, the Kilkenny forwards have seemed to pick up the slack in last few games, but can they keep it going when the talisman returns;

“His absence has spurred the lads on, and I hope when he comes back the lads don’t sit back on their laurels and wait for TJ to do it. I heard that maybe after his (TJ) honeymoon he is heading for groin surgery, I hope that is just a rumor and not true. The year is so short as it is, it might be tough for him to get back to full tilt if he is undergoing the knife.”

Listen back to the full interview with Eoin on Full Time below :