Kilkenny are Leinster senior hurling champions for the fifth year in a row. The Cats secured their latest title with an emphatic 3-28 to 1-18 victory over Dublin in a one-sided affair at Croke Park.
TJ Reid was instrumental in Kilkenny’s triumph, netting two goals, while Eoin Cody added another to cap off a stellar performance by the team.
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng reflected on the team’s journey and their potential for further growth. He emphasized the demanding nature of the Leinster campaign and the challenges faced by the team. “We’ve been competitive in everything that we’ve been involved in, and the Leinster campaign can be pretty taxing because especially when you pick up a few injuries and things like that, you’re week on week,” Lyng noted.
Lyng also highlighted the mental fortitude required to sustain their winning streak. “Mentally it’s a challenge, people assume that you’re going to come into these games and just win them. That’s not reality; you have to show up for every game, so you have to be ready for it and prepare for it,” he said. Despite the hurdles, Kilkenny’s continuous improvement has been evident throughout the campaign. “At times we’ve found it hard, but at the same time, we got through most of those games and I think we’ve improved as we’ve gone along.”
Reflecting on their latest performance, Lyng expressed optimism about the future. “Today (Saturday) was obviously our best performance, maybe of the year, but at the same time, there’s more in us, there definitely is. And we need to find more in the next couple of weeks,” he asserted.
Kilkenny, the all-time record-holders, have now claimed the Leinster Championship title 76 times. With this victory, they advance to the All-Ireland semi-final, where they aim to continue their winning streak.
In other hurling news, Limerick remains on track to make history by potentially winning the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the fifth consecutive year. They triumphed over Clare with a scoreline of 1-26 to 1-20 in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship final in Thurles. Gearoid Hegarty’s goal was pivotal for John Kiely’s side, who secured their sixth provincial title in a row.
Meanwhile, Offaly clinched the Joe McDonagh Cup by defeating Laois with a score of 2-23 to 26 points. This victory ensures Offaly’s participation in the Leinster championship next season, with both Offaly and Laois advancing to the All-Ireland Preliminary stages.
