Joey Holden: ‘Kilkenny can be a match for anyone in the Championship’
JOEY Holden is confident Kilkenny can be a match for anyone in this year’s Championship.
Most bookies have Limerick Galway, Tipperary and Cork down as the leading contenders to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2019.
Holden hasn’t been part of the Kilkenny set-up so far this season, but the Ballyhale man is adamant they will be live contenders when it really matters this summer.
“If you look at the Kilkenny club championship, how tight the games are, the attitude from all club players is fantastic and they go hammer and tongs at each other,” Holden told reporters earlier.
“So if we can bring that in Kilkenny, I’ve no doubt that we’ll be a match for any team we meet later on in the Championship.
“Lads are getting valuable game-time now.
“They’re going to use that experience to bring it forward and hopefully we clan have a good, strong Championship this year with Kilkenny.”
Holden is preparing for the AIB All-Ireland club SHC final where Ballyhale Shamrocks will face St Thomas’ of Galway.
It will be his second time playing at Croke Park since the 2016 All-Ireland final when the Cats endured a difficult afternoon against Tipperary.
“Maybe the whole team didn’t play as well as we could have that day,” he admitted.
“But, listen, I wasn’t on my game that day. It didn’t go well for me, so fair enough.
“Again, it’s not up to me, it’s up to the management team on where they see fit for every player to fit on the team. That’s what their job is.
“My job is just to go out and hurl as best I can in whatever position I play.”
