After their impressive victory over O’Loughlin Gaels in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship final, Thomastown is ready to take on a new challenge in the AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final.
The Kilkenny champions will face Castletown-Geoghegan on Sunday, November 17th, at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.
Thomastown manager Noel Doherty shared his thoughts on the upcoming fixture, acknowledging both the challenge and the excitement that awaits his team. Reflecting on their journey, Doherty emphasized that the Leinster campaign represents a new chapter:
“We’ve gone on this journey, albeit this is going to be a whole other journey, and these games are going to take a life of their own. It’s going to be a big step up from what we faced last year.”
This will be Thomastown’s first foray into the senior Leinster competition after a successful run at the intermediate level last season, where they claimed both Leinster and All-Ireland crowns. Doherty, however, remains focused on the new challenge ahead and is well aware of the threat Castletown-Geoghegan poses.
“I was up in Mullingar, I was at the Westmeath County Final. Castletown were very impressive; they had some very impressive hurlers. This is going to be a huge challenge,” he noted. “It’s one we’re not looking past; it’s a challenge that we’re relishing and it’s one we’re going to take very seriously.”
Doherty praised the dedication of his players, highlighting the qualities that have been the foundation of their success.
“The efforts, the honesty, the attitude, the work rate, the application in training—those fundamentals of our game are still there, and that hasn’t changed,” he said.
The quarter-final match-up against Castletown-Geoghegan, who recently overcame Lough Lene Gaels to win the Westmeath Senior Hurling title, promises to be an intense and competitive affair. Castletown-Geoghegan showed their strength in that final, defeating Lough Lene Gaels 1-27 to 2-17, and will look to bring that momentum against Thomastown.
As the excitement builds, the AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final lineup also includes other thrilling matchups, with games scheduled across Leinster on the same day:
- Na Fianna (Dublin) vs Clough Ballacolla (Laois) – Parnell Park, 3:00 pm
- Naas (Kildare) vs St. Martins (Wexford) – St. Conleths Park, Newbridge, 2:00 pm
- Castletown-Geoghegan (Westmeath) vs Thomastown (Kilkenny) – TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 1:30 pm
- St. Mullins (Carlow) vs Kilcormac Killoughey (Offaly) – Netwatch Cullen Park, 2:30 pm
With all teams bringing their best to the quarter-finals, the competition is set to be fierce. Doherty and his team will look to draw on their unity, experience, and hard-earned success as they embark on this next chapter, aiming to leave their mark in the Leinster Senior Championship.
Get up for the match by listening to KCLRs Hurling Podcast, that also reveals the Senior Club Team of the Year.