League masters Kilkenny priming for summer tests

Kilkenny remain the side most likely to challenge Limerick, and few manage the league better than the Cats, according to Neil McManus.

Derek Lyng's side are the pace setters in 1A, an opening day draw with Wexford followed by wins over Cork and Offaly.

The Stripeymen have almost achieved every team’s goal in 1A – avoid relegation – and have done so with trying out new personnel.

Captain Paddy Deegan and talisman TJ Reid are yet to feature, while full-back Huw Lawlor only featured against the Rebels.

The likes of Darragh Corcoran, Shane Murphy and Luke Hogan are among those who have been given opportunities to impress and speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast says Lyng is adding further depth to his panel.

"He’s getting a lot of game time into lads we haven’t seen much of. We saw Billy Drennan last year, but he didn’t play any championship," he said.

"The big players they have will be introduced over the course of the league

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"Kilkenny are the masters of it really. They build nice and quietly through the league, tend to peak in and around the Leinster final time and push on for the last two games after that."

Next up is a trip to Ennis, and while league progress is likely to be bonus territory, championship is already looming on the horizon.

McManus believes that if any side is to halt the Limerick juggernaut, the Cats are best placed to do so given the firepower at their disposal.

"In my opinion they are the number two team in the country. They are slightly above Clare, and they know how to