'There's huge potential there' - Michael Leane keen for Kerry to showcase hurling ability

Wednesday's Munster League opener away to Waterford is the first step in a 2026 campaign that will see Kerry compete in the third-tier Christy Ring Cup.

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026 - 06:56

Eoghan Cormican

Kerry begin their Munster SHL campaign this evening.

Given the exposure to Liam MacCarthy teams it offers, no Munster county is as glad to see the return of the pre-season competition as they.

Rewind to 2022 and that year’s Munster SHL opener. A famous three-point win at home to Tipperary.

“It was definitely a proud moment for me. I'll never forget that day in Austin Stack Park,” says returning Kerry half-back Michael Leane.

The 0-17 to 0-14 upset was the first step in a 2022 campaign that concluded with a second Joe McDonagh Cup final appearance at Croker in three years. Kerry hurling was on the verge of a breakthrough.

The next step was right there in front of them. The next step was never taken.

This evening’s Munster League opener away to Waterford (Dungarvan, 7pm) is the first step in a 2026 campaign that will see Kerry compete in the third-tier Christy Ring Cup.

“It just shows that from that day against Tipp in 2022, we've maybe not pushed on, and Tipperary obviously have gone on to be All-Ireland champions. It does again come back to that potential in Kerry hurling.

"It's just finding that core group that now need to build something again and show what Kerry hurling can do, because there's huge potential there.

“Turnover has probably been one of the things that has really made Kerry hurling struggle to see bigger progress in the bigger picture. But then again, if you look at that this year, you're probably going to pick maybe seven or eight who played in that 2022 McDonagh final that are back in with the squad.”

Leane throws out returning names such as Jordan Conway, Jason Diggins, Colin Walsh, and James O’Connor. Leane himself is a returnee. He opted out for 2025. The owner of LIFT gym in Ballyheigue, that’s where most of his focus went. He’d no interest in being half committed to the Kerry cause.

“I just took a year out and I didn't really know when I'd come back. I just focused on playing a bit of club and that went well. I felt I was fresh and ready to come back.

"Obviously me and Tweek stay in touch and he would have said, 'How are you feeling about this year?' and I said, 'Yeah, I'm ready to come back in and give what I can to Kerry again',” the 28-year-old continued.

With Kerry having never taken that next step to joining the game’s elite, and instead now finding themselves two steps lower on the ladder, has the opportunity passed for this group of Kerry hurlers?

“I suppose you can't really look back too much. We just have to focus again on what we can make of this year, how we can try and put our best foot forward, do well in the Christy Ring and guide the next group of players in Kerry.

“From our experience, we've been in Joe McDonagh finals, and so how we can maybe just add that experience and tell them that there ain't much of a gap at the same time. It was only maybe two or three years ago that we were playing in the Liam MacCarthy against Wexford. They're the occasions that I believe Kerry hurling can definitely get back to.

“That's where Kildare are going now. Kildare are going into the Leinster Championship, and Kerry beat Kildare last year. It's just about a bit of consistent work and keeping that group of players, not having a huge turnover every year.”