Ciaran Kilkenny
**By Cian O’Connell **
It has been an action packed and dramatic two years for Ciaran Kilkenny, whose passion for the Dublin cause remains undiminished.
Refreshed and rejuvenated following the winter break from inter-county fare, Kilkenny is relishing Dublin’s Allianz Football League opener away to Cavan on Saturday February 5 at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Dublin’s unbeaten League and Championship record currently stands at 29 matches and the versatile Castleknock player reflected on two silverware laden campaigns following a serious knee injury suffered in 2014. “Yeah, it’s been brilliant,” Kilkenny admits.
“To win two All-Irelands and to win two National Leagues as well because I was involved in the panel the two years previous, but I was injured. I had a medial ligament damage one year and I hurt my hand another year.
“So to be involved in the League finals - especially last year, commemorating the 1916 Rising – that was a really special day to be involved. Against Kerry, with the tradition between the teams and to go on and win that.
“Such good games then in the summer, such close games with Donegal. Kerry again and Mayo, with the replay, it was fantastic.”
“So to be successful with the club and successful with the county, I’m just thankful that I have my health and I haven’t been injured since. A lot of lads, when they do the cruciate, some lads tend to injure their hamstring or hurt their knees.
“Thank God, touch wood, I’ll keep healthy. I’m enjoying my football as well.”
eir launch
During his recovery from injury what approach did Kilkenny take? “Fellas from different clubs text me to see what I did and the only thing you can do is take your time with that sort of injury. Work on aspects you might want to improve on; your strength, your jumping.
“A lot of the things you’re doing are single-legged, it helps your power and your jump.
“It makes you so appreciative of what you have. You have to be so careful in your recovery and rest. I would be a big believer in doing so much recovery, whether that’s going for ice baths or going for a swim or getting a massage – taking an extra rest where needs be.
“Because when you’re younger, you’re a bit more naïve and you want to play every game like when you’re 13 or 14. And if you keep that up, you’re just going to break down. So you have to be smart in your training and manage your loads as much as possible.
Kilkenny was an interested spectator in St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge last Sunday as an experimental Dublin outfit defeated Kildare in the Bord Na Mona O’Byrne Cup.
Eager to return to competitive action in the Dublin shirt Kilkenny stresses what he reckons to be the most important way of measuring his own performance.
“Usually I measure performance by whether we win the game or not. If we win, it doesn’t matter how I perform or how anyone else performs. I suppose every person has a different role to play.
“I often say to children going into schools, every single person has an important role in the team. Whether it’s the goalkeeper, the corner-back – everyone has a particular role to do.
“Some of them games, I had to go and play half-back. And I actually really enjoyed playing both positions. And I would have played as a defender underage.
“But because so many teams play defensive systems, you have to be really patient on the ball.
“Sometimes, the option is not on to kick the ball inside is not on. And if you do, you’ll give it away. Sometimes it’s more important to be patient on the ball and take the right opportunity.”
Castleknock were beaten by St Vincents in the Dublin SFC Final last November.
Much debate surrounded Kilkenny’s deep lying role in some of Dublin’s summer encounters in 2016. Was the number of plays or possessions something that Kilkenny constantly monitored?
“Yeah, in teams you would have-most teams would have statisticians that would do stuff about the number of possessions. They do it in the AFL and in other sports.
“Disposals, is what they call it – by foot or by hand. And I suppose there’s a positive way of measuring it.
“My philosophy is that it’s always better to retain possession than give it away.
“You’re better off waiting for a man in a better position to get the ball and penetrate. But I still think it’s important. Especially when you’re playing against defensive teams. Because when you give the ball away to them, it gives them a great lift.”
Castleknock came close to claiming an unexpected Dublin SFC crown too in 2016 - losing the decider against St Vincent’s - another gripping chapter in Kilkenny’s sporting tale. “It was an incredible journey,” Kilkenny says.
“At the start of the campaign, we were nearly innocent and naïve going in. You’re kind of taking it game by game.
“But Vincent’s experience really showed at that stage. It was just a great experience for our lads. Because we’re all 23 and 24.
“It was great to see all the young lads in the club and all the volunteers and mentors who have put so much into the club enjoy the run so much.
“It’s been an incredible rise and rollercoaster for the club over the past few years. Every year we seem to win something. We won Junior one year, then the next year we won Junior hurling.
“It was just an incredible journey. To get up senior, I suppose our next goal to get up senior hurling so we can keep that run going.”
The Dublin and Castleknock adventure continues for Kilkenny, who will always be striving to make further progress.
***Dublin’s Ciaran Kilkenny and Monaghan’s Darren Hughes were in Dublin on Wednesday to announce details of eir Sport's expanded coverage of the 2017 Allianz Leagues. eir Sport will broadcast a total of 23 live games, an increase from the 17 which have previously been broadcast. ***
