Brennan back for Kilkenny

EDDIE BRENNAN has returned to the Kilkenny panel ahead of Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League refixture against Tipperary at Thurles. Although unlikely to start, Brennan is eager to feature in some way as he eases himself back into another season.

“I was on a little bit of a break there,” he says. “I got married before Christmas and I’m only back from the honeymoon. I was tipping away at the gym and I’m back in from here on. Hopefully there’s still a seat in the dressingroom

“I’d love to tog out on Sunday, and be there on the bench and support the lads. The lads have been doing the business so far and they are going well . . .

“They are getting more matches now and that’s what they need. The more matches they get the harder it’s going to be. Hopefully they won’t get too many matches or they’d take your jersey or place on the panel.

“That’s what it’s all about. You relish that every year. Myself and maybe one or two of the other lads are moving on a little bit, there’s an influx of young lads coming up behind us. I suppose I’m a small bit worried I’ve missed training until now because as I said the lads are eyeing up their place.”

Kilkenny enjoyed a comfortable win over Offaly on Sunday – whereas Tipperary went down heavily to Dublin.

However Brennan still expects the sort of challenge Tipperary put up to them in last year’s All-Ireland final, as well as the league final last May.

“There were two ding-dong battles, two exceptional matches but that was last year now. It’s probably quite important for Tipp to lay down a marker where they are at this year so they will probably be under a decent bit of pressure this year. They progressed and got to the All-Ireland final and I suppose there is only one thing left for them to do now. It’s going to be a good prospect on Sunday and will be a test of where both teams are.”

Meanwhile, Waterford’s league prospects have suffered a blow with confirmation that centre-back Michael “Brick” Walsh will miss the rest of the campaign after sustaining a broken bone in his arm late in Sunday’s defeat to Galway.

The injury is set to keep Walsh out of action for two months.

Friday

Fitzgibbon Cup Semi-finals – NUI Galway v Limerick IT, Dangan, noon, B Gavin (Offaly); Waterford IT v UL, Dangan, 2pm, J Ryan (Tipperary). Ryan Cup Semi-finals – DCU v NUI Maynooth, Dangan, 11am; IT Tralee v IT Carlow, Dangan, 1pm.

Saturday

NFL (7.30pm unless stated) Division One – Cork v Galway, Páirc Uí Rinn, M Condon (Waterford). NFL Division Two – Laois v Armagh, Portlaoise, R Hickey (Clare); Down v Tipperary, Páirc Esler, J Curley (Meath); Meath v Westmeath, Páirc Tailteann, J White (Donegal). NFL Division Three – Antrim v Fermanagh, Casement Park, C Reynolds (Down).

NHL (2.30pm unless stated) Division Three A – Armagh v Mayo, Crossmaglen, G Duffy (Antrim). NHL Division Three B: Fingal v Wicklow, Swords, D Connolly (Kilkenny). NHL Division Four – Longford v South Down, Pearse Park, T Ryan (Tipperary).

Leinster Under-21 Football – Offaly v Carlow, Tullamore, 2.30pm; Louth v Dublin, Dundalk, 2.30pm; Westmeath v Meath, Mullingar, 2pm; Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim, 2pm.

Fitzgibbon Cup Final – NUIG/LIT v WIT/UL, Pearse Stadium, 3pm, D Kirwan

(Cork). Ryan Cup Final – DCU/NUIM v IT Tralee/IT Carlow, Pearse Stadium 12.45pm. Camogie NL Division One: Group One – Dublin v Clare, Parnell Park, 1pm; Wexford v Galway, St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, 1.30pm. Group Two – Kilkenny v Cork, Mullinavat, 4pm.

Women’s NFL Division Two – Down v Tipperary, Saval, 4pm.

Sunday

NFL (2.30pm unless stated) Division One – Mayo v Dublin, Castlebar, P Fox (Westmeath); Kerry v Derry, Tralee, G Ó Conamha (Galway); Monaghan v Tyrone, Inniskeen, M Higgins (Fermanagh).

NFL Division Two – Kildare v Donegal, Newbridge, M Collins (Cork). NFL Division Three – Wexford v Sligo, Wexford Park, 1.0, D Brazil (Offaly); Offaly v Roscommon, Tullamore, G McCormack (Dublin); Louth v Cavan, Drogheda, G Walsh (Antrim).

NFL Division Four – Waterford v Longford, Dungarvan, R Moloney (Limerick); Kilkenny v London, Nowlan Park, 1pm, M Collins (Cork); Wicklow v Carlow, Aughrim, S Doyle (Wexford); Clare v Leitrim, Cusack Park, P Sheehy (Kerry).

NHL (2.30pm unless stated) Division One – Tipperary v Kilkenny, Thurles, B Kelly (Westmeath). NHL Division Four – Monaghan v Fermanagh, Cordoff, 12.45pm, D Magee (Down).

Women’s NFL (2pm unless stated) Division One – Dublin v Kerry, Naomh Mearnóg, Portmarnock; Monaghan v Mayo, Emyvale; Laois v Tyrone, Stradbally; Cork v Galway, Buttevant, 3pm. Division Two – Armagh v Meath, Cullaville; Kildare v Clare, Eadestown; Donegal v Sligo, Tír Chonaill Park, Donegal. Division Three – Cavan v Wexford, Kingspan Breffni Park;

Westmeath v Fermanagh, Westmeath venue TBC; Roscommon v Wicklow, Dr Hyde Park; Waterford v Longford, Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 4pm. Division Four –

Offaly v Antrim, Shamrocks, Mucklagh; Limerick v Kilkenny, Mungret.