NEVER mind the progress of their ‘third string’ to the O’Byrne Cup final. Dublin’s rivals will surely be more wary of Ciarán Kilkenny’s report that the League and All-Ireland champions’ main men are refreshed and raring to go ahead of their title defences.
Having recently returned from Dublin’s team holiday in Jamaica, Kilkenny appeared refreshed at the launch of eir Sport’s Allianz League coverage yesterday – a media event held to announce the broadcaster’s match schedule along with the news that they will become the first Irish broadcaster to show three live GAA games simultaneously across its channels next weekend.
Dublin will not be in action until the following day, Sunday week, when they visit Cavan, but their Castelknock playmaker has insisted a reportedly well-rested and hungry panel are itching for action.
“If you are not resting then something is eventually going to happen,” cautioned Kilkenny when questioned about the need for a break over the festive season following Dublin’s run to their final replay success.
“Particularly ourselves with the way the game went on into October and the fact we’d been going all the way to September the previous year.
“When lads come back they are buzzing, they are so excited, really looking forward to training again and both mentally and physically you are just in such a great place after having a rest.
“You can see by their aura that they are ready to go,” added the 23-year-old, who was also busy with his club up until the first weekend of November before their historic run to a first Dublin senior final ended in defeat to St Vincent’s.
Studying for a post-graduate diploma – or what he terms a Masters in primary education – with two years still to go at St Patrick’s College, Kilkenny will return to action in Sigerson Cup duty for DCU-St Patrick’s against UCC on Tuesday following his five-week break.
He will not pull on a blue shirt again until Sunday week when the champions visit Breffni Park in their National League opener.
With three clubmates involved in the temporary Dublin panel that have competed in the O’Byrne Cup in the absence of Jim Gavin’s holidaying first squad, Kilkenny has been watching the progress of the capital’s ‘third string’ with interest.
“It’s great for Dublin to have that talent available,” noted Kilkenny, having attended Dublin’s win over a near full-strength Kildare side in Newbridge last weekend, before using the pre-season competition – and a possible influx of competition for places – as a diversion from a question relating to the county’s bid to retain their major titles this season.
“We have so much talent and there are a lot of lads who were on the panel last year who didn’t come in but they are going to come in this year.
“The big X in our calendar at the moment is Cavan in Breffni Park…
“That kind of [three-in-a-row] stuff is outside of our control, we can only focus on the Cavan game,” added the 23-year-old in the typically clichéd style so unfortunately common among many of today’s inter-county players.”
