Former Kilkenny star JJ Delaney is an analyst on Sky Sports GAA coverage.
By Cian O’Connell
JJ Delaney believes the future is bright in Kilkenny, but hopes the talented youngsters emerging in the county are given time to demonstrate their talent on the inter-county stage.
Brian Cody has mixed youth with experience throughout 2018 so far winning the Allianz Hurling League title, but Saturday’s Leinster Championship Nowlan Park encounter against Wexford is now a crunch game.
Kilkenny suffered a disappointing defeat against All Ireland champions Galway, but Delaney feels that valuable lessons were learned by the Cats in Salthill.
“Whoever goes out there Brian would expect a certain work rate and attitude from the players which was shown in the League up to this,” Delaney says. “They dug deep against Dublin in the first game because if they had accepted defeat it could be a completely different summer.
“Dublin were the better team that day, but Kilkenny ground out the result. I suppose a lot of players came at the one time, I was lucky enough, but if you come at the one time you are going to leave at the one time.
“This Kilkenny team has moved on since then, it is up to the younger guys to step up to the mark. I've no issue regarding that because I think they will do it, they just need to be given a small bit of time.
“We were given time when we were younger so the expectancy probably wasn't there when we came in at first. You have to give these guys time to learn their trade and no better place to learn your trade than in Salthill against a physically big, big Galway team.”
A powerful Galway outfit are currently setting the standard, but Delaney is adamant that Kilkenny’s prospects would be boosted by the return of some marquee forwards in attack.
“You have a number of Galway players who are probably two or three years down the road strength and conditioning wise,” Delaney adds.
Micheal Donoghue and Brian Cody pictured following the Leinster Championship encounter at Pearse Stadium.
“They are longer down the road, but the lads will have to put in the hard work. No better game than when you go into something like that if you know you aren't physically strong enough no better way to steel your mind is to think about getting physically ready for this.
“It was a Championship game with Championship hitting and Kilkenny struggled to get through the Galway half back line, they held them up and had reinforcements with David Burke in on top of the guys so they were turning over ball and they were launching a lot of attacks.
“Kilkenny have a lot of things to work on, but if you can get Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan, Ger Aylward back these guys have a lot of experience.
“It was a bad day at the office, but the beauty of the League format is you can dust yourself down, get ready to go again. One bad game doesn't mean your whole season is gone either.”
With eight All Ireland medals secured during a glittering playing career Delaney believes that Kilkenny can progress as the summer develops with the Wexford tussle set to be revealing.
“Galway physically are a big, strong team, but they are able to hurl,” Delaney states. “I don't think they get the credit they deserve regarding how good they are on the ball.
“Walter Walsh's goal near the end put respectability back on the scoreline, but I don't think the players would be happy with their performances more than anything.
"Scoring so little from play isn't good enough for any team really, let alone Kilkenny so I think they have something to work on.
“It is nearly like a Leinster semi-final, but it is knockout from now on. That is what lads are looking forward to.”
JJ Delaney attended a Sky Sports GAA Hurling Championship Preview night at Liam Mellows GAA Club in Galway.
