Keher: Cats ready to purr again
Newcomers Brian Kennedy, Jonjo Farrell, Mark Kelly and Padraig Walsh have seized on the starting roles thrown their way during the league and Keher said the introduction of fresh blood has reinvigorated the squad.
The element of staleness which began to set in last summer has been addressed and the six-time All-Ireland medal winner believes a panel is now in place that will allow the county challenge for September honours once more.
“They’ve done a lot of good work throughout the league and unearthed a few good lads,” he noted.
“They’ve a strong panel to face the challenges now next Sunday and the championship. I think most Kilkenny people are pleased we’re going in a nice direction.
“The team have a lot of mileage on the clock and there was very little back up last year for the injured players.
“In any event, we have a good strong panel this year that will be all challenging for positions so I think it’ll strengthen the team.”
Added to the aforementioned quartet, Keher has been most impressed by the contributions of Cillian Buckley and Water Walsh, two men, he said, who are thriving in unfamiliar roles.
“Cillian Buckley seems to have found a position at left half-back, he’s been playing excellently.
“Walter Walsh then seems to be the exact same. Right half-forward, that seems to be his position because for a big man he seems to have extraordinary pace so he’s able to use that pace to break through and I think he’s going to be a very important player to Kilkenny this year.”
And so while most Kilkenny enthusiasts would view this Sunday’s league decider as simply another exercise in adding to their title haul, Keher believes it presents the ideal opportunity to see how the panel’s more inexperienced members stand up in a clash of such importance.
“The very basics of this Kilkenny team over the years is they want to win every match. If they’re beaten they’ll recover and come back to challenge again.
“I presume the new players will be on the team for Sunday and it’s going to be a great challenge for them to see how they will stand up to championship vigour.”
One noticeable absentee from the set-up this spring has been Tommy Walsh, lining out in just two league encounters and replaced at half-time in both.
His place on the starting XV come championship is secure according to Keher, but the number five shirt is one he no longer commands with the authority of old.
“Knowing Tommy, he’s madly enthusiastic and mad keen to get back. His spirit is probably needed into the team that he has generated over the last 10 or 12 years.
“I think he’s been carrying a couple of injuries as well which doesn’t help but I expect him to be back all guns blazing during the year. I’d say we’ll see more of him.
“I thought maybe he might have been tried at half-forward during the league. Centre-field or half-forward, just change his position and see how he’d get on there.”
Putting Kilkenny to one side, Keher’s letter to GAA hierarchy calling for a review of the game has generated much interest and he reiterated calls for the abolition of the yellow and red card yesterday.
“They are confusing the whole game. I hope this new committee will look seriously at it.
“We don’t have to follow blindly everything that’s being done when we’re talking about a national treasure which is hurling. We should do what’s best for it.
“I think borrowing from other sports isn’t going to... it’s not relevant. I think cards are just unnecessary.
“When you establish something then people gather around in committees and start putting rules on top of the cards, what’s going to be a yellow card, I think that’s confusing for everyone.
“I think referees would have more initiative without them. If they give a fella a card for a very easy technical foul then they’re caught.
“If they give another card they have to put him off, I think that’s terrible.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
