The Cats are gearing up for a pivotal All-Ireland Semi-Final clash against Clare this Saturday.
While Clare has bested Kilkenny twice this year, history favors Kilkenny at this stage, having defeated Clare in the semi-finals for the past two years.
Four-time All-Star Liam Fennelly, speaking to KCLR, emphasized the high stakes for Clare and their manager Brian Lohan.
“Brian Lohan has been there five years now, and okay, they have a league title. It’s make-or-break for a lot of the players,” Fennelly said. “Kilkenny have been going well enough this year. Clare and Kilkenny is always pretty close. Shane O’Donnell is in the form of his life. Kilkenny seems to be playing better as a team. Tony Kelly is back playing well again. It’s a big game, it’s hard to call.”
Bar a select few the majority of the players between Kilkenny and Clare have never lifted an All Ireland title. On the other hand Liam Fennelly is the only man to lift both the old and new Liam McCarthy Cup as a captain.