Kilkenny legend gives honest All-Ireland prediction for the Cats ahead of Tipperary semi-final clash
Derek Lyng's side will face neighbours Tipperary in Sunday week's SHC semi-final.
Advertisement
2
Keher was the all-time leading point scorer in the National League up until March when Patrick Horgan broke his record
2
The Cats have not lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 10 years
And while Keher believes Dublin can 'shove it up to Cork' in the other last-four clash, he expects the Rebels to contest the July 20 decider.
Kilkenny and Tipp are preparing to face each other in the Championship for the first time since the Premier won the 2019 final.
Keher said: 'There's a great rivalry there but a great admiration for both teams as well. I think it'll be a solid battle.
'We were looking at Tipperary early on
Advertisement
Read more on GAA
'If we do, we could be coming up against a tremendous Cork team. Of course, there's great rivalry there as well over the years.
'But it'll be all to play for and it'll be all on the day. Hopefully our lads will get over it.'
While Kilkenny have not claimed the Liam MacCarthy Cup since 2015, Keher has been encouraged by the performances of a side who have
He said: 'They're a fine team, Kilkenny. I think they'll make a good run of it and that they'll do well.
Advertisement
Most read in GAA Hurling
Comment
'It's very hard to call any game between Kilkenny and Tipp. It'll depend on who turns up most on the day.
'But I'm very happy with the Kilkenny team that will probably be starting against Tipp.'
Brendan Cummins defends time-keeping in Munster GAA hurling final between Cork and Limerick
Keher insisted that 'the game is beautiful' when asked for his thoughts on the state of modern hurling.
Short passing in the defensive half of the field is a bugbear for the Rower-Inistioge man, who won six All-Ireland medals before retiring in 1977.
Advertisement
But he said: 'As someone who has played in the forwards, I'd be telling them that the faster you get the ball up there before the defence is set, the better.'
EDDIE KEHER is an ambassador for 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge. This year's event, in aid of GAA-related charities, takes place at Killarney Golf and Fishing Resort on October 16 and 17.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Wrexham closing in on £8million Man City star as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney splash cash for Championship season
WREXHAM are closing in on the signing of Manchester City star Callum Doyle, according to reports. The Championship side owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are discussing a deal worth £8million. 2 Wrexham are nearing a deal for Man City star Callum Doyle Credit: Getty 2 The versatile defender was on loan at Norwich last season Credit: Getty Doyle, 21, is capable of playing at centre-back or left-back. He has come through Man City's academy but never made a first-team appearance for them. Doyle has spent the last four seasons away from the Etihad on loan at Sunderland, Coventry, Leicester and Norwich. He made 23 appearances for the Foxes under Enzo Maresca as they won promotion to the Premier League last year. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL HE'S A KEEPER Man Utd have obvious solution to goalkeeper crisis, and it's not Donnarumma And last term at Carrow Road, he played 43 times and registered seven assists. Doyle has another two years on his contract at Man City, but they are reportedly ready to cash in. The England Under-21 international would become Wrexham's tenth signing of the summer. And an £8m deal would take their total spend to a reported £28m. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN They have already signed Ipswich striker Nathan Broadhead for an initial £7.5m that could rise to £10m with add-ons. Other notable arrivals are Lewis O'Brien from Nottingham Forest, Conor Coady from Leicester and Kieffer Moore from Sheffield United. How Wrexham was transformed from crime-ridden hellhole to Welsh Hollywood as locals say 'next stop's the Premier League' Wrexham, who have secured three promotions in as many years, suffered defeats in their opening two Championship games of the season against Southampton and Hull.
Irish Times
11 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Lifestyle seen returning to profit this year
The directors of Lifestyle Sports expect the business to return to profit in the current year. New accounts filed by Lifestyle Sports (Ireland) Ltd show the retailer's pre-tax losses halved to €1.2 million in the 12 months to the end of September 28th. Revenues at the business dipping slightly from €104.99 million to €104.18 million. Still, in their report, the directors state that the business has recorded revenue growth since the end of last September. READ MORE The company operates the Lifestyle Sports business through 38 bricks and mortar stores and online. In their report, they state that 'the company's profitability continued with increased momentum post year end and for the quarter ended December 31st 2024, which includes the key Black Friday and Christmas trading period, the company reported a €1.2m or 23pc increase in EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortisation). They state that 'this increase in cash profitability was a function of not just continuing cost savings but a welcome return to top line growth with 'like for like' revenue growth of 4.5 per cent'. They further add that they note that 'this growth in revenue was broad based'. The directors note that 'this performance, in what remains a challenging and competitive market, was validation of the company's strategy based on premium omni channel retailing focussed on the stylised athlete, benefitting from exclusive access to some of the most popular sports inspired brands in Ireland'. 'Based on this performance the company is expected to return to profitability in the year ended September 27th 2025'. Lifestyle Sports is owned by the Co Wexford based Stafford Group and reflecting on the 2024 fiscal performance, the directors state that the results for the year 'were encouraging'. The increased cash profitability contributed to a €1.53m reduction in operating losses to €408,000. Exceptional costs of €624,372 relating to store closure costs and restructuring costs contributed to the pre-tax loss of €1.23 million. Numbers employed reduced from 408 to 383 as staff costs declined from €13.5 million to €13.45 million. In a post balance sheet event, the directors reveal that the company participated in the successful re-financing of the Stafford Group with Bank of Ireland, to put in place five year facilities maturing in November 2029. They added that having successfully paid down almost €7 million of bank debt over the preceding 12 months from a combination of asset disposals and tighter working capital management, the Stafford Group refinanced its total banking facilities of €22.7 million through a combination of term loans amounting to €19.2 million and overdraft facilities amounting to €3.5 million.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Dublin legend issues warning for GAA and inter-county managers as huge issue needs to be ‘bottomed out'
SHER LOOK Dublin legend issues warning for GAA and inter-county managers as huge issue needs to be 'bottomed out' JASON Sherlock has grown concerned at the increased demands of inter-county managers. Sherlock sees an issue with many head coaches putting in a huge amount of hours into their roles despite not being full-time managers. 2 The GAA president, Jarlath Burns, is also concerned by the ongoing issue 2 The 49-year-old is worried by the treatment of inter-county managers With 11 inter-county managers leaving their role this season, that makes it the fourth year in a row with over 10 exits from head coaches. Jarlath Burns had hinted at the possibility of contracts for inter-county managers rather than the current term system in place. In 2024 the GAA president had said: "I think there will be a debate on whether we should put managers on contract. "It is nearly a full-time job, the amount of accountability is there. Even when you are winning there can be difficulty listening to criticism." Sherlock has had his own taste of inter-county coaching, having worked as a forwards coach under Jim Gavin at Dublin from 2014 to 2019 and also worked as a performance coach with Dessie Dolan at Westmeath. He believes the issue will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. When talking on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 about the issue, Sherlock said: "I get why the GAA are looking at that. "I always looked at Jim Gavin and then I was involved with Dessie Dolan with Westmeath for a couple of years and it's such a big commitment from a time perspective. "You only have to look at the amount of vacancies there are with GAA managers now at the moment. "At the end of the day there's very little reward because a lot of these counties, with respect, are never going to be competitive at the highest level with the current structures that are there. Henry Shefflin among GAA stars at Oasis gigs where Man City tradition made its Croke Park debut "I can understand why we're looking at it and it probably does need to be bottomed out because I'm not sure how sustainable it is for people to have a working 9-5 role and be a manager of an inter-county football or hurling team." The former Westmeath boss Dolan had revealed a head coach role at inter-county level demands "40 hours a week at the very least in championship football." PLAYERS SET THE STANDARD Sherlock believes it's the ambition of the players which drives the demanding hours from the bosses. The 1995 All-Ireland winner explained: "I think the players have set the standards and they're constantly looking to improve and become better. From a management perspective then you have to kind of respect that. "You have to be better and you have to give them the information, the feedback and the data that they look for. "That all takes time, so if that's the way the game is going, the workload will remain or grow. Again you only have to look at the All-Ireland final as a spectacle. "Whenever a game is played the right way, it is one of the best games in the world so I have no problem with players and managers wanting to be the best that they can be. "I suppose that has to be balanced in terms of our association and what's sustainable. At the end of the day what I've always loved about GAA is that if you were willing to give the time and the effort, there was a place for you. "Unfortunately now players and coaches have to make that call on whether they can do this and balance everything else that's in their life." SHERLOCK BACK ON THE CASE? Sherlock has not ruled out a return to GAA coaching or maybe even in another sport in the future. The eight-time Leinster title winner added: "I've always said I'm a student of sport. I love sport, I really enjoy it and obviously I have a big draw to GAA. "I have my views and philosophies on that. It's great being involved in a GAA environment but the balance to that is it's a lot of time. It's a lot of sacrifice. It's a lot of commitment. "I'm obviously very curious and I've no doubt, no matter what I do, sport will be a big part of my future."
