Cuala manager Mattie Kenny admits attempting to retain their All-Ireland hurling crown has thrown up some challenges this season.
The Dalkey side are on their way back to Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day, after a 1-17 to 0-11 victory over Galway’s Liam Mellows at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
They will face Limerick side Na Piarsaigh next month, as they bid to make it back-to-back Tommy Moore Cups.
But Galway man Kenny admitted to Off The Ball’s Derek Ryan that the experience from last season “doesn’t make things any easier”.
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/CualaCLG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CualaCLG</a> manager Mattie Kenny joined <a href="https://twitter.com/offtheball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@offtheball</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/derekryan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@derekryan</a>, after their <a href="https://twitter.com/AIB_GAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AIB_GAA</a> All-Ireland semi final win over Liam Mellows yesterday. <br><br>Full interview here: <a href="https://t.co/34SiJYVtqM">https://t.co/34SiJYVtqM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NowSport98FM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NowSport98FM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheToughest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheToughest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BackingCuala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BackingCuala</a> <a href="https://t.co/LixmhVyV8z">pic.twitter.com/LixmhVyV8z</a></p>— 98FM (@98FM) <a href="https://twitter.com/98FM/status/962779522763542528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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“It’s hard to put your finger on it. What does experience mean? It doesn’t make it any easier for you.
“Experience tells you that every game is a banana skin. Every game brings its own challenges.
“Our mantra is “one game at a time”. We always just prepare for the next game. And maybe experience has taught us that- you don’t know what day you could be taken out”.
Portumna were the last side to retain the hurling title back in 2008/09.
And Kenny is happy his charges will have another chance to play in what he calls the “pinnacle” of their career.
“We’re delighted and fortunate to be able to get back to Croke Park. It’s the pinnacle of every club hurlers’ career to represent his club on All-Ireland final day.
Watch the interview in full below:
