KIERAN JOYCE KNOWS that “something different” lies in store when he returns to the Kilkenny squad later this month.
Brian Cody’s backroom shake-up has seen two of his former team-mates, James McGarry and Derek Lyng, come on board as selectors while Martin Fogarty has stepped down.
While the Cats prepare for Clare, Joyce is fully focused on tomorrow’s AIB All-Ireland intermediate hurling final where he lines out for Rower-Inistioge against Kilnadeema-Leitrim of Galway.
That Division 1A opener in Ennis on 16 February is likely to come a bit too soon for Joyce who expects the competition for places to be fierce.
“There’s a couple of lads vying for my spot. It’s good to see there’s plenty of competition and a couple of new faces in.”
He last came up against Lyng when Rower beat Emeralds in the county final, and though he hasn’t had chance to catch up with either of the new men, Joyce expects them to bring a fresh perspective.
“It’s new now,” he said. “I’ve never been coached under any of them at all so it’s something different.”
He’s raring for tomorrow’s Croke Park clash and the chance to win some silverware, but at the same time, Joyce wants to be back with the county as soon as possible.
“I’m hoping I might get a week off, I’m not sure.
“I wouldn’t mind. You’d love to be straight in, especially going down to Ennis, I’d say it’ll be a ripper of a game.
“It’ll depend on what happens. Hopefully we win and I probably will get a couple of days’ rest.
“I might travel down and watch the game but I wouldn’t think I’d be partaking — too much of a turnaround.”
