Experience helping Castlelyons to frank status as senior A contenders

While the move to smaller-sized grades has meant that there is less of a leap for promoted teams, they must still adapt to an increase in quality.

In that regard, Castlelyons can be satisfied with how they have fared since winning the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC two years ago. Their maiden SAHC campaign culminated in a semi-final appearance – arguably running champions Glen Rovers closer than anyone – while this year they are back at the penultimate stage, three group-stage wins earning a direct semi-final spot.

Having battled for so long to get out of the third tier, Alan Fenton feels that Castlelyons have harnessed their momentum well.

“If you look back over the last five years, we've progressed massively as a group,” he says.

“We always knew we could push on, so it's great to be finally able to do it.

“Going straight to the semi-final was what we targeted at the start and we knew we were playing against battle-hardened teams. We got there in the end, so we're happy with that.”

The county win of 2023 was followed by Munster honours and an All-Ireland final appearance, losing to a Thomastown side that would go on to win the Kilkenny senior title last year.

Equally, Castlelyons turned the long year to their advantage as they competed immediately in senior A. And, while there was no disgrace in losing to the Glen, nobody was happy with defeat, either.

“We obviously knew it was going to be a savage step up,” Fenton says, “but we just knew if we got our house any bit in order, we had a chance.

“We were playing the Glen and they were obviously only there for one reason, that was to go back up to premier senior, which they did comfortably enough in the end.

“We were happy enough with our performance, but when you reflect back then, we left a lot of goal chances behind us too.

“They went down and got a goal straightaway. I suppose it's probably a bit of an eye-opener.

“If the chances are there, we have to score, and if you're not, you're just going to be punished.”

It’s a good time to be hurling in Castlelyons, not least in terms of the trickle-down effect.

“Even for the younger fellas, when they were watching us in the journey to the All-Ireland, that's brought them on,” Fenton says.

“Before that, they mightn’t have been as ‘addicted’ to being down on the pitch, but rain, hail or snow, they're down there now, which is great to see as well.

“A lot of what we do is to keep them going and drive them on to the next generation too.”

Moving straight to the semi-finals of course means a longer break as the quarter-finals play out, but Fenton believes that it is something which will stand to Castlelyons.

“It's actually been very good,” he says.

“I know some teams mightn't handle the four-week break well but we've been together as a group now for nearly three years.

“We've been doing our bit and resting up to it when you need to, just priming yourself for the right time.

“There's no point in going hard for the four weeks and trying to burn yourself out or anything. It's been very good.

“We saw the quarter-finals and we know we have a savage Blarney team ahead of us, so we’re just going to have to be at our best.”