Trainer says Cats have eyes on title

KILKENNY are ideally placed to mount a strong challenge for championship honours according to trainer Mick O’Flynn.

That optimism is based on the strengthened panel which Brian Cody and his sideline team of O’Flynn, Martin Fogarty and Michael Dempsey have assembled.

O’Flynn, first introduced to the inter-county scene by the late Ollie Walsh over 15 years ago, agrees that the infusion of new talent enhances their potential to recapture the All-Ireland SHC title.

“It is good for the team. The newer players have shown - especially against Waterford - that they are in serious contention, certainly for the panel, if not for starting places.

“That puts the pressure on the other fellows. To have the extra players there that you know have a realistic possibility of coming into the team is a dream for any team manager,’’ he said.

“Winning the first game in Waterford was a huge boost, especially after trailing for so long. We got a great start on Sunday and then we seemed to rest on our laurels and let Galway right back into the game. But, for the reason it was pleasing that we were able to push back again and get a way to win.

“Galway had a huge incentive coming down after the very heavy defeat in the championship - to show that was not the real Galway at all. In fairness they proved that, they battled hard and gave it a right rattle.’’

The Kilkenny approach to the League will be no different from previous years, he confirmed, adding: “It was a proven situation in 2002 and 2003 so there’s a belief in that formula now. And, the fact that the games run into each other is great. I’m sure everybody sees it the same. It’s ideal preparation for the championship and the gap is sufficient to recover after the League and get organised for it.

Conor Hayes, the Galway manager was pleased with the overall performance though he had some concerns over the concession of goals.

“We hit the crossbar in the second half and Richie Murray was in hard luck, but the lads showed a good bit of heart and a good bit of fight. A lot of our players didn’t play well. The loss of Liam Hodgins early on threw us a bit, in that we had switch around a fair bit to get it right. Ollie Canning played well when he went back wing-back, but you could see the reason why we are trying him in midfield, he’s good going forward and got a good point early on.”

Brian Cody had a lot of sympathy for Hodgins, who was yellow-carded after only eight minutes. “Derek Lyng was coming through the middle at the time. We’d be amazed and disgusted to see him sent off. If he (Hodgins) had pulled across him with the hurley, I’d say ‘send him off,’ but Derek Lyng didn’t even know he was hit,’’ he commented.