Horgan remains wary of a Kilkenny revival

CORK’S Patrick Horgan believes Kilkenny are the team to beat in this year’s All-Ireland SHC.

Horgan was part of the Cork team that knocked Kilkenny out of last year’s Championship en route to the Rebels’ All-Ireland-final replay defeat to Clare. While many pundits expect the 2013 All-Ireland finalists to extend a hurling ‘revolution’ this season, Horgan remains wary of Brian Cody’s side.

‘There’s Kilkenny, Tipp, Clare, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, us, Dublin: all those teams are not going to train every Tuesday and Thursday to make up the numbers,’ said Horgan when questioned on who he sees as All-Ireland contenders. ‘You can be guaranteed they are saying down in training they want to win the All-Ireland.

‘Who is on top? You’d have to say Kilkenny,’ added Horgan, who hit 012 last weekend as Cork played out a draw against Waterford in their Munster SHC opener.

The Cork forward was speaking at a Centra launch which will see the All-Ireland SHC sponsors stage 16 community events country-wide this summer. The brightest stars of hurling — including Horgan (pictured, left, with Isabella Crinion, aged 8, at the launch) — will be on hand, and children will get the opportunity to learn from the game’s leading players through specialised hurling skills sessions. For more information go to www. centra.ie