Kilkenny hurling’s next generation fires warning with 50 goals in opening club league rounds

Ruarc Sweeney and Niall Shortall have delivered a timely injection of firepower as Kilkenny search for new attacking talent

Ruarc Sweeney in action for O'Loughlin Gaels against Dicksboro. Pic: Clubber TV

There was excitement on Community Radio Kilkenny last Monday evening.

The World of Gaelic Games analysts were digesting an extraordinary weekend of club hurling where 27 goals were scored across the six senior hurling league games, the competition which determines the starting point for the 12 clubs in the championship.

A total of 23 had been posted in the opening round over the bank holiday weekend. Combined, the 50 goals far exceeded the 37 that was posted over the first two rounds last year.

Of the 50, O’Loughlin Gaels have scored 10 of them and their starlet Ruarc Sweeney seven. Following a hat-trick on his senior championship debut against Dicksboro last Thursday week, he struck four against Ballyhale Shamrocks last Sunday when Niall Shortall, a Kilkenny U20 two years ago, went one better than him with five.

Sweeney was part of Henry Shefflin’s U20 squad this past season. He was taken off early in the group game against Galway before posting 1-4, 1-1 from play, against Offaly in the quarter-final. He found the net again in the Leinster final defeat to Galway, coming off the bench as he did in the semi-final win over Dublin.

“Young Ruarc Sweeney didn’t really nail down a place in the U20s’ team this year but he’s come and got seven goals in two matches,” said former GAA president Nickey Brennan on CRK. 

“Niall Shortall got five goals. It’s good to see this happening. Maybe there is something going to come out of all this.

“These are guys who weren’t regulars on any Kilkenny squad last year, so who knows what it’s going to throw up. I accept Ruarc Sweeney is still young but it’s good to see. It’s asking questions. It’s great for the players and if they build on that, apart from the clubs being the winner hopefully Kilkenny can be in the longer term.” 

It’s not just the feats of Sweeney and Shortall that generated encouragement. Dylan Simpson, son of Liam, has scored 4-8 for Tullaroan in their wins over Danesfort and Dicksboro. Danesfort’s Ben Whitty is another of the hat-trick club, his three coming against Erin’s Own.

Sure, it’s forwards’ weather and the ball is hopping like never before but after arguably the county’s most sobering season in 30 years, scoring power is something Kilkenny yearns.

Last February, Liam Sheedy wasn’t predicting The Cats would fail to get out of the Leinster SHC round-robin for the first time but he did call out their dearth of high-quality forwards.

“They are as honest as ever, Kilkenny bring a great attitude to the pitch every time,” he said on RTÉ’s League Sunday. “But to me they are lacking up front.

“I think they are going to have to go back and ask a 38-year-old (TJ Reid) to come back in. He will nail 90% of those frees and loves to get his hands on the ball from time to time. They really could do with one or two forwards coming through but I just don't see them in the pipeline, so far in the league.

“I don’t see the real quality of forwards. I don’t see Kilkenny having enough. Adrian Mullen is a big loss, but I couldn’t see them having enough to make a consistent push.” 

It’s not as if Derek Lyng didn’t try to inject youth to the forward line. Outside of Reid, the average age of the Kilkenny attack in the provincial final round defeat to Dublin this year was just over 25 and included 2024 U20 Harry Shine and 24-year-old Liam Moore.

But no U20 has carved out a starting place since Eoin Cody and he last played in the grade six years ago. None of the forwards that won the 2022 All-Ireland U20 title under Lyng have yet made the breakthrough as much as Timmy Clifford, Gearóid Dunne and Billy Drennan have been given their chance.

Kilkenny were hardly goal-shy this past championship, averaging over two goals a game for the second year in a row but their points-only tally of 105 in five games was terribly slim. In one game less, Cork and Limerick surpassed that figure in the Munster group. Over their five Leinster SHC outings, they racked up over 50 wides.

What’s been bemoaned most in Kilkenny is that the team in cutting their cloth to suit their means have left behind the direct play that made them great. On Sunday, Shortall played down his five goals. “There was a lot of high ball landing in and around the square,” he told Clubber TV. But there will be few complaints elsewhere.

Richie Power was thrilled with Sweeney’s efforts these past couple of weekends. “4-1 from play (v Shamrocks), a brilliant return for a young fella,” he told CKR. “Three goals the last day against Dicksboro. He’s really after announcing himself into this O’Loughlin’s set-up.

On Saturday, Sweeney looks to add to his handsome goal total against Erin’s Own in Muckalee on Saturday as Shortall heads to face Simpson and Tullaroan in Callan. Their clinical finishing is dearly welcomed.

Footage courtesy of Clubber TV. For a special Clubber TV and Irish Examiner digital bundle, visit here.