The standards are high around Nowlan Park. Always have been.
On paper, the Division 1A league table makes handy reading for Kilkenny. They sit two points off leaders Tipperary in second place with a game in hand – but, according to one of their favourite sons, there's something missing.
Former Cats ace Jackie Tyrrell fears his old team have lost a bit of their bite. Speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, Tyrrell revealed a gnawing concern that Kilkenny’s early February defeat at home to Galway – which came in between away wins in Clare and Wexford – provided evidence that the usually hardest-working team in hurling have been taking it a bit too easy on themselves.
"Galway came into Nowlan Park and bossed us around," Tyrrell said. "We had an opportunity to win when Eoin Cody had that great chance for a goal and we didn’t take it.
"It’s been very patchy. There’s this narrative around Kilkenny that they always show up with their overalls on and, when they get a chance, they kill the team – I’m seeing signs that that is eroding a small bit.
"I don’t think we’re as ruthless as before, I don’t think we’re as hardworking as before. I see patches of the game where we’re going out of the game and our work level is dropping off completely."
Neither the two-point win over Clare on the opening weekend of Allianz League action and a sound beating of Wexford last time out look as pleasing when you consider that those two counties have managed only one win between them in seven league games.
Saturday’s trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to take on Cork may provide an acid test to see, once and for all, if this version of the Cats has the minerals to mix it when the going gets tough. After the Rebels, they face Limerick and league-leaders Tipp.
It's a run of games that will tell us much about the 2025 Cats, Tyrrell reckons.
"If you took Mossy Keogan out of our first two or three games, we wouldn’t have a whole lot to hang on to," Tyrrell went on. "It’s time for this group now to really, really grow and nail these next three performances.
"Do they need to win all three? No. But it’d be nice to come out with two – and backing it up with huge performances.
"Limerick coming to town; Tipp coming to town – and going to Cork. It doesn’t get any bigger."
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