Adrian Mullen insists no pressure on Kilkenny to end All-Ireland drought

Kilkenny forward Adrian Mullen has said the team does not feel added pressure to end their nine-year wait for an All-Ireland title.

After losing the All-Ireland finals in 2022 and 2023 to Limerick, Kilkenny defeated John Kiely's side to reach Saturday's Allianz League Division One against Clare.

With the Leinster championship getting underway in two weeks' time, Mullen believes a National League title can help build momentum into their season.

"We are in a privileged position to be facing into a Allianz Hurling league final this Saturday," he told breakingnews.ie. "It is a competitive game, there is a national title on the line, we will be going full belt to be trying to get over the line.

"I think Clare are in the same boat, they will be going hell for leather as well. If we do win, that will give the team a bit of confidence, probably install a bit of winning mentality into the team, that will be a huge bonus if we get over the line.

"Any day you go up against any of these teams, the Clares, the Limericks, the Corks, the Tipperarys, you have to go for it. Any given day, a team can come out the right side of it."

While he may be only 24, Mullen has experience as he has been part of this team since he was 19.

While he may have grown up watching a dominant Kilkenny team that will go down as one of the greatest Irish sporting teams, this Kilkenny team have not lifted the Liam McCarty Cup since 2015.

In a county where expectations for hurling is high, Mullen insists there is no added pressure, with all concentration on this weekend's game.

"I wouldn't say its pressure. Obviously we are a proud hurling county. With that great team that won the four-in-a-row and a few other All-Irelands, we were probably used to winning