Kiltale on the road in Leinster
Kiltale will again bid to to emulate Kilmessan's 2008 Leinster Club IHC title when they open their campaign at Wexford Park tomorrow in a quarter-final tie in this year's competition according to FERGAL LYNCH,
This time they will face St Mogue's Fethard at 1.30pm in the opening round of the provincial competition,
On a few occasions it seemed as if their best chance had passed them by, other times they approached games with a sense of entitlement and came unstuck, but now provincial expectations are slightly lower - can they sneak in under the radar?
Without doubt the talent is as high class as ever for Kiltale to be considered serious contenders.
In fact the talent is probably greater than ever as players who were once thought to be past their prime are now playing the hurling of their life.
Peter Durnin is the prime example of that. A hurler of considerable renown at his peak, Durnin wouldn't have looked out of place on any county team, but injuries and time appeared to have caught up with the talismatic attacker over the last couple of years.
However, this year Durnin has been a revelation. When things weren't going so well for Kiltale earlier in the season he was the rare shining light.
When Jack Regan limped out of the SHC final against Trim at Pairc Tailteann a few short weeks ago Durnin stepped up to the plate to deliver an exhibition of free-taking.
And it wasn't just his accuracy from frees that impressed either. He seems to have found another half-yard of pace, the touch is sticking, the influence is stronger than ever, the just 30-year-old is a key man again and he could be the one to unlock Kiltale's potential in Leinster.
Unsurprisingly Kilkenny clubs have won eight of the last nine Leinster Club IHC crowns with Carlow's Mount Leinster Rangers breaking that run in 2011 and they were so exceptional that they went on to win the Leinster Club SHC in 2013.
Kiltale have made it to the final on two occasions, but lost to Mullinavat by three points in 2014 and to Bennettsbridge by 0-13 to 1-14 the following year.
In 2016 Carrickshock edged out the Meath champions in a controversial semi-final in Trim while the Ballyraggett had plenty to spare in last year's semi-final - Kilkenny sides have been Kiltale's Achilles heel.
Kiltale have faced Wexford opposition in provincial competition before and with mixed fortunes.
In 2012 Oylegate-Glenbrien emerged with a 3-12 to 2-13 semi-final victory, but in 2016 Kiltale enjoyed a 2-24 to 2-8 quarter-final win over the same Wexford men in Trim.
Kiltale also enjoyed victory over Enniscorthy side Shamrocks in 2014, so they are well familiar with Wexford opposition and will also know they are more than capable of beating St Mogue's Fethard next Saturday, 1.30pm.
For the winner of that tie it is more than likely that Kilkenny opposition will await again as Graigue-Ballycallan are set to face Celbridge next Saturday also with the winner due to face either Kiltale or St Mogue's Fethard in the provincial semi-final.
There are a couple of huge hurdles in Kiltale's path to Leinster Club IHC glory, but they are coming in under the radar and any side that underestimates the Meath champions is surely in for a rude awakening.
This could be the year that the Kiltale club will make the long-awaited breakthrough in Leinster?
LEINSTER CLUB IHC QUARTER-FINALS
SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER
Innovate Wexford Pk (1.30)
Fethard St Mogues (WX) v Kiltale (Meath)
Referee Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
John Lockes, Callan (1.30)
Graigue Ballycallan (KK) v Celbridge (Kildare)
Ref: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
Joule Park Aughrim (1.30)
Glenealy (Wicklow) v Portlaoise (Laois)
Ref: Sean Stack (Dublin)
Parnell Park Dublin (1.30)
Faughs (Dublin) v Ballinamere (Offaly)
Ref: Kevin Brady (Louth)
Extra Time and Winner on the Day, if necessary.
(i) If level at end of normal time, - 2 periods of 10 minutes will follow, and,
(ii) If still level - 2 periods of 5 minutes will follow, and,
(iii) If still level - Free taking competiton to decide the outcome