to deliver competitive
striped teams.Billy Drennan’s
accomplished finishing has
been evident throughout
the campaign, while Pierce
Blanchfield has also made
fine scoring contributions.The grit demonstrated in
difficult circumstances
confirmed Kilkenny’sAN intriguing Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Championship is edging towards an exciting
conclusion.
BY CIAN O’CONNELLKILKENNY TO TEST
LIMERICK’S RESOLVE
BILLY DRENNAN,
KILKENNY“So, we just have improved
as a team as the year has
gone on. We are delighted
to be into the last four to
see if we can make a bit of
an impact in the semi-final,
to hopefully get into an All-
Ireland final.”Kilkenny, though, remain
a defiant outfit under the
shrewd guidance of Richie
Mulrooney, who continuesThe two semi-finals are
certain to provide plenty of
talking points with Limerick
and Kilkenny’s clash primed
to be a most interesting
tussle.
Limerick earned silverware
down south in Munster
concluding the provincial
campaign with a flourish.
Initially Limerick had to
show survival instincts when
drawing against Cork and
Waterford. It meant that
Limerick’s third fixture with
Clare mattered deeply as
Diarmuid Mullins’ charges
carved out a victory.
Then Tipperary were soundly
beaten before Limerick took
care of the Clare challenge in
the decider with the minimum
of fuss. Mullins is now hopeful
that his outfit can flourish at
GAA headquarters.
“At the start of the year we
didn’t know really where
we would end up,” Mullins
admits. “All the games in
Munster were very, very
competitive and very close.