Fennelly happy to take centre stage

Despite being captain of the Kilkenny hurlers last year, Michael Fennelly was not a regular starter as the Cats claimed a fourth GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship in a row.

This time around, while he is no longer the skipper, the Ballyhale Shamrocks man has played a central role in Brian Cody’s side’s run to another final, with a fifth title on the trot at stake against Tipperary on Sunday.

As to what the X-factor in him getting a starting spot is, though, Fennelly is unsure.

“I don't know really,” he says. “I'm not doing anything different as such from any other year. With the club we had a decent break, not a break as such, but our training was more focused on training in January and February and March whereas the boys would have been doing a lot more running, a lot more foundation work.

“We've been going non-stop from last year, the whole way to March. There's no pressure this year. Last year there was pressure with the captaincy and that. This year it's more free-flowing I suppose. I'm not doing anything different to any other year. I've just been lucky to get a run.”

No doubt the club’s victory in the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship, when they beat Portumna in March, helped.

“It was probably one of the biggest games, one of the biggest challenges to date,” he Fennelly says, “playing Portumna going for three in a row which had never been done before. The likes of Joe Canning, Ollie Canning, Damien Hayes, all super players and they've definitely been the strongest team in Ireland over the past two or three years.

“That was a huge game for us and there was a lot on the line for a lot of individuals that day. We felt in 2009 that we didn't perform in the semi-final against Portumna. They were more physical and more hungry. We had to improve and thankfully on that day in Croke Park we proved ourselves.”

On Sunday, Fennelly will get another chance to prove himself in Croke Park in a final. Last year, his role was limited to a cameo, but he was still delighted to be brought on.

“Definitely,” he says. “Being captain, I wanted to lead the team out that day and I wasn't picked so I wanted to get a run for five minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, whatever it took. I was delighted to get in and prove myself I suppose. Just to be part of it.”

He knows a win will not be easily achieved, though, especially as he feels Tipp are stronger than last year.

“I think they are stronger, yeah. As I said, they don't have such a set team this year. They've restructured it and they can bring lads in and out of any position which is definitely beneficial for them.

“There is a couple of young lads on that team that will have the experience from last year and that will stand to them this year. They won the minor two years in a row and obviously they're in an under-21 final now again.

“Experience is not an issue with them. They have a few young lads but they're well able to play.”