Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Hurling

hurling

Michael Fennelly to assist developing hurlers in Kilkenny

Former Kilkenny Minor hurler, Michael Fennelly, at the launch of this year’s Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships. This summer, Electric Ireland will use their social channels to spotlight players from across the Championships, in recognition of the major impact that playing Minor can have on young people’s future successes, on and off the field.

Former Kilkenny Minor hurler, Michael Fennelly, at the launch of this year’s Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships. This summer, Electric Ireland will use their social channels to spotlight players from across the Championships, in recognition of the major impact that playing Minor can have on young people’s future successes, on and off the field.

By Cian O’Connell

Playing, coaching, and management have been part and parcel of Michael Fennelly’s life for the past couple of decades.

So there has been some pleasure simply monitoring the past few months of hurling action at every level for the eight time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny, who was most recently in charge of the Offaly senior hurlers for three years.

“I've found it enjoyable enough where you are not switched on focusing on the Joe McDonagh or your own team basically,” Fennelly says.

“It has been nice to look at games and to watch games. There is a lot of hurling at the weekends so there is a lot to watch. I was nearly all hurled out one of the Sunday evenings where I couldn't even look at The Sunday Game to be honest, I had so much hurling watched.

“It has been good, the games are coming thick and fast with the season being condensed. There is an awful lot of games which is good, you have had a lot of good games in the last few weeks.”

There has been significant change in Kilkenny in 2023 with Derek Lyng taking over from Brian Cody, who was in charge since 1999.

“I think it is going well for Derek, they got to a league final, they got to have a crack off of Limerick,” Fennelly says.

Former Offaly senior hurling manager Michael Fennelly.

Former Offaly senior hurling manager Michael Fennelly.

“There was no expectation really, I don't think from Kilkenny people, on that game or even in the country. Limerick were hot favourites, but just to get a game like that was important for Kilkenny at that time.  

“Inside in Nowlan Park against Galway, I thought Galway looked quite impressive in the first half, they faded away quite quickly in the second, Kilkenny got on top. Kilkenny controlled the game for most parts, but the end result was a draw.

“Kilkenny were probably the better team on the day so that was positive to see. They have looked after business so far in their other games quite well, they have Dublin now this weekend and Wexford the following one.”

Fennelly is still immersed in sport and hurling. “I'm helping out with a club or two in Tipperary and Limerick at the moment,” he says. “It is more so from a distance, helping out with the S&C and nutrition, and performance, helping to schedule the year with trainings.

“That is nice to do, to go back to have a look at the club scene, to see what is happening there.”

The former Kilkenny captain is also set to help emerging players and coaches in the county. “There is a performance lead role that is happening in Kilkenny,” Fennelly explains. “I'm taking on that one part-time, it will happen in conjunction with my lecturing.

“You will essentially be putting in coach education pathways and player pathways for development squads, minor, and U20s. That will be a quite nice different little project to do. I'm looking forward to that now over the coming years.”