Football

Tyrone trouncing will count for nothing if we meet again in Championship says Dublin's Ciaran Kilkenny

Dublin footballer Ciaran Kilkenny and Wexford hurler Lee Chin and Dublin Footballer Ciaran Kilkenny were at the GAA's national games development centre in Abbotstown, Dublin yesterday. Both are ambassadors for Sure, official statistics partner of the GAA, who have announced the most comprehensive ever season of GAA statistics with new technology, more stats and greater analysis than ever before. The partnership, which enters its third year, promises to empower GAA fans with a deeper understanding of the components of success by breaking down individual and team statistics through conversation, head to head analysis and easy to digest infographics that explore and expose the numbers behind the performances that set the Championship alight. Picture by Sportsfile
Dublin footballer Ciaran Kilkenny and Wexford hurler Lee Chin and Dublin Footballer Ciaran Kilkenny were at the GAA's national games development centre in Abbotstown, Dublin yesterday. Both are ambassadors for Sure, official statistics partner of the GAA, Dublin footballer Ciaran Kilkenny and Wexford hurler Lee Chin and Dublin Footballer Ciaran Kilkenny were at the GAA's national games development centre in Abbotstown, Dublin yesterday. Both are ambassadors for Sure, official statistics partner of the GAA, who have announced the most comprehensive ever season of GAA statistics with new technology, more stats and greater analysis than ever before. The partnership, which enters its third year, promises to empower GAA fans with a deeper understanding of the components of success by breaking down individual and team statistics through conversation, head to head analysis and easy to digest infographics that explore and expose the numbers behind the performances that set the Championship alight. Picture by Sportsfile

CIARAN Kilkenny insists memories of Dublin’s 12-point silencing of Tyrone last summer will be banished should they come up against the Red Hands again in the coming months.

Anticipation filled the air leading into that late All-Ireland semi-final clash at Croke Park, and followed weeks of street corner discussion about whether Mickey Harte’s men were equipped to stop the sky blue juggernaut.

The answer was delivered in emphatic fashion, a stunning early Con O’Callaghan goal setting Jim Gavin’s side on the road to a much more straightforward victory than anybody could have predicted.

Tyrone have licked their wounds and are back among the leading All-Ireland contenders heading into the Championship. And with both expected to make it to the Super Eights, another summer showdown could be in store.

The Dubs would hold the psychological advantage, but playmaker Kilkenny insists that 2017 victory now counts for nothing.

“That’s the beauty of sport, anything can happen on any day. You can’t afford to be complacent because if you do, you will be caught straight away,” said the 24-year-old.

“I remember being in Loughmacrory about a week before the Dublin-Tyrone game and you could feel the energy, the atmosphere, the buzz, and I could feel the same in Dublin.

“We knew coming up against Tyrone that their form was really good, both teams were really looking forward to the game and knew it was going to be a serious challenge.

“We got the early goal, started so well and after that we pushed on. But then we had a serious game with Tyrone in Omagh at the start of the year, we know there’s nothing between both teams.

“It’s just on the day, what team performs better, and we were just fortunate enough that we performed better on that day at Croke Park.”

Performed better is a bit of an understatement – Tyrone simply couldn’t get into the game, and were outclassed in every department.

Dublin went on to land a third All-Ireland title in-a-row and on May 26/27, against the winners of Offaly v Wicklow, they begin the bid for four.

Once again they are the team to be shot down, so how do Gavin and stalwarts like Kilkenny retain the motivation to scale the mountain year upon year?

“Every year brings a different challenge,” says the Castleknock man.

“There’s always a different group of players. No matter what, the same group that’s celebrating in the dressing room will never be there again.

“Your career only lasts for so long. I’m getting into my mid-20s now, it feels like it’s been a flash in front of my eyes so you just have to appreciate it when you’re there, to be fit and healthy and have the opportunity to play for your county and represent your club.

“I really appreciate it this year because I’ve been very busy outside of my football, so to actually get to training and the buzz and the energy release you get from training, the bond you have with the players, slagging and having the craic, that is part of playing for your county.

“I just love going out and playing games. I love building relationships and connections through sport, I love seeing the joy it brings to my family, my community, and the people of Dublin. That’s what it’s all about.””

Yet Kilkenny is quick to dismiss the notion that Dublin have developed an aura that gives them an automatic advantage over all other counties with whom they cross paths.

He added: “We’re just focusing on the present, on what we can improve on at the moment. When you finish your career you have time to look back and see what your career was like, you can discuss those things then.”