After 13 seasons in blue, every single Leinster football county has tumbled in front of Ciarán Kilkenny and Dublin like a domino. All apart from Offaly that is.
Sunday’s Leinster SFC semi-final tie at Croke Park will be the first time that the counties have met in the championship since 2007.
Which means that for every Dublin player, aside from Stephen Cluxton who lined out in that 1-12 to 0-10 win for Dublin 17 years ago, it will be an entirely new experience. And fresh challenges are rare things when you’re a Dublin player like Kilkenny, who hasn’t lost a provincial game in well over a decade of service.
To add to Kilkenny’s intrigue, his mother, Mary, is an Offaly native and grew up there before moving to Laois as a teenager.
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“She used to say she played centrefield for Mucklagh back in the day,” smiled Kilkenny, an ambassador for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic which takes place at the Aviva Stadium on August 24th.
“She said she was a great player but I don’t know about that! She would have been from around Kilcormac direction and she’d often mention Mucklagh and Screggan and places like that.
“My granny, who is 88, she was travelling through the area recently and my auntie was with her and they knocked into one of the houses near enough where they used to live. There was an old man from Offaly and he remembered my grandfather who had passed away. They had lived there for a good few years and then when my mam was 15 or 16 they moved to Portlaoise.
“We’ve played a lot of matches in Portlaoise and I always call into my granny afterwards. So yeah, delighted to get the opportunity to play Offaly.”
Kilkenny has strong family links throughout the country. He is a first cousin, once removed, of legendary Galway footballer, the late Seán Purcell. Former Tipperary hurler Gearóid Ryan is another relation, as is ex-Dublin manager Tommy Carr.
The latter pair will be tuned in on Sunday when Kilkenny and Dublin attempt to return to the Leinster final for the 14th consecutive season.
Kilkenny had a wobble of sorts last year when he was dropped for the first time. The schoolteacher was used as a sub against Mayo and Monaghan and it took a leap of faith from boss Dessie Farrell to start him in the All-Ireland final.
Kilkenny described the episode as an “emotional challenge” but he redoubled his efforts over winter and has hit the ground running in 2024, lining out in every league and championship game so far, firing 0-14.
“I’m 30 years of age now, it’s my 13th or 14th year with Dublin,” said Kilkenny. “I understand that I only have a limited time left playing at the highest level. I just want to enjoy it as much as possible, go out as if I’m 10 years old again, playing for my primary school, just play the best football I can, have absolutely no regrets after the season.
“Last year, it was my first time in a good while not starting a game or two and I got injured at the wrong time of the season as well.
“I had to fight hard to get back into the team. This season, I’ve just really been looking forward to the season, very motivated, very driven and just trying to tick every box I can from a preparation point of view.”
Kilkenny can’t just focus on his own game though. Part of his remit now is to help usher through their rising stars, of which there are plenty. When Michael Fitzsimons and Cluxton lined out against Meath last Sunday week, they became the 53rd and 54th players to feature for Dublin this year.
Ross McGarry, Greg McEneaney, Killian McGinnis, Theo Clancy and Brian O’Leary are all part of the next blue wave.
“The whole squad, unbeknownst to us, has nearly changed,” said Kilkenny. “We’ve a very young squad now and that’s a credit to Dessie and the management team. The competition for places is great.
“Talking to some of the younger lads, mentoring them and imparting a bit of wisdom is part of it. Then when the time comes to hang up the boots, it would be great to see them push on and wear the Dublin jersey for years to come.”
Versatile Kilkenny wore number nine against Meath last time out in the absence of the suspended Brian Fenton, though Tom Lahiff and Brian Howard slotted in at midfield.
Fenton’s longevity and lengthy injury-free streak meant it was the first time Dublin had to think hard about midfield alternatives.
“We have five or six midfielders there, as options,” said Kilkenny. “Tom Lahiff, Brian Howard, James McCarthy, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Senan Forker, Fento himself. There are loads of lads who can step up to the plate, which is good.
“Obviously Brian is an exceptional footballer and a special talent. I have a great telepathy with him when I’m playing with him.”
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