Kilkenny’s young guns ready to roll
“Of course we will,” said the Carrickshock forward. “We have to, but it’s going to be a big loss to Kilkenny hurling. DJ Carey has been there. He’s done it all. He’s won everything there is to be won.
“He was a great help to me in my first season in Kilkenny. For that I thank him very much and I just wish him all the best in the future.”
Life after DJ begins in the unfamiliar surroundings of Mullingar’s Cusack Park on Saturday night, but the news of their talisman’s retirement hasn’t derailed Kilkenny’s preparations.
Their latest league title was secured without Carey’s input after all and, although most of the panel expected to see him back in training for the summer, the announcement that his involvement was at an end didn’t come as a major surprise to anybody.
“To be honest, there wasn’t a huge reaction. We always had it in the back of our minds that DJ could return for the championship, but he made his own decision last week to call it a day and we respect that. We’ve just got on with preparing for Saturday night.”
The great man’s abdication obviously leaves the door open for someone else to claim his jersey and there is no lack of attacking young talent in Brian Cody’s squad eager to do just that.
Of the six forwards who started the league final defeat of Limerick last month, only Henry Shefflin and Martin Comerford could be described as seasoned campaigners.
Power only joined the squad in December of 2004 alongside Eoin Larkin, while Cha Fitzpatrick played on the same U-21 team as them last season. Even the sixth man, Aidan Fogarty, is relatively young having appeared on the 2003 U-21 side.
Despite their tender years, they will be expected to lead the line like grizzled veterans this season, but Power doesn’t feel any added pressure despite the absence of Carey and the fact he now has his rookie year behind him.
“I don’t feel any more pressure. There’s a lot of us after going in there over the last year or two. We’re all on the same level in Kilkenny. If you’re not lucky enough to make the starting 15, you have to be prepared to be one of the five subs in.
“There’s an awful lot of young lads in there. And we’re fighting for the six places in the forward line.”
With various provincial and All-Ireland underage medals at school, club and county level to his credit, much is expected of Power whose debut season saw him score 1-6 in his four matches.
He may have to wait a few weeks to add to that tally yet if the dead leg that he picked up in the defeat of Limerick continues to show painfully progress before the team is named tomorrow night.
“I’m coming along. I’m getting there. It’s been a tough start to the year after picking up a few injuries. I hope to play some part (this Saturday). I haven’t trained much over the last few weeks. I’m just trying to get my fitness back up to where it was.”
Whoever togs out on Saturday evening will be expected to make short shrift of the Westmeath challenge. The last time the counties met in the championship was 1989 with the margin of victory a whopping 27 points.
In fact, Westmeath’s best performance against Kilkenny in five championship meetings stretching back to 1976 was a 15-point loss in 1987. Despite that, Power insists on treating the challenge with the utmost respect.
“We’re treating it the same as any Leinster Championship game. Westmeath came through a tough game against Dublin in Portlaoise on a day that wasn’t really suitable for hurling. They really showed their skill, heart and determination that day and they fully deserve their place in the Leinster semi-final.”
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