Kilkenny can lift the gloom

IT’S an unusual position for Kilkenny to be in – backs to the wall after two rounds of the League.

Certainly there seems to be a lot of doom and gloom about the place, the sense of frustration summed up by Eoin Larkin’s tweet which said that Kilkenny can’t be always relying on the old guard to do the heavy lifting.

The idea of Kilkenny dropping out of hurling’s top flight is a hard one to contemplate.

Given how much they need a first win, I think they’ll get it against a Cork side that have been inconsistent.

The other big game of the day sees Tipperary host Clare. Clare were superb against Kilkenny but this will tell a bit more about the All-Ireland champions’ resolve. Tipp seem to be able to handle different styles of play well so I expect they will have a plan to take care of Clare.