The Kerry hurlers were once often mentioned in the same breath as football in Kilkenny.
A pastime. Little more than a mere distraction to the real business of what the county’s GAA teams are all about.
But those days are long gone for the men in the south-west who have made huge strides over the last decade.
Christy Ring Cup Champions in 2015, and promotion secured from Division 2 of the Allianz Hurling League, means the Munster men are competing against more ‘traditional’ hurling counties on a regular basis.
Their league campaign in Division 1B began with a famous win over Laois, while they almost pulled off a seismic shock against Limerick a week later, losing to the Treatymen by a mere four points in Killarney.
So it is fitting that the optimism of hurling fans not only in the county’s stronghold of north Kerry, but countywide, is rewarded by a first ever televised league appearance by TG4 this Sunday.
The station confirmed they have never before broadcast a game of senior hurling at this time of year featuring Kerry.
Never.
@KMcGillicuddy86 @Kerry_Official @SportTG4 It is definitely the first time we have covered them in the league live #Historic
— GAA BEO TG4 (@GAA_BEO) March 1, 2016
But that is going to change this weekend with an early game as Kerry face Wexford in Tralee at 12.30, as the curtain raiser to the county’s senior football action against Donegal.
Fair play to @GAA_BEO who are showing the @Kerry_Official v @OfficialWexGAA hurling game live this Sunday pic.twitter.com/3yBMCQrQhi
— Tralee Parnells Hurling & Camogie Club (@TParnells) February 29, 2016
@radiokerrysport @StageandSport @MortimerMurphy1 Now here's a first @GAA_BEO to show @Kerry_Official v @OfficialWexGAA live this Sunday !
— seamus regan (@ReganBigjim) February 29, 2016
Last year TG4 did show Kerry’s Christy Ring cup success over Derry, and this weekend’s decision to broadcast their game is seen as another key part of the sport’s development in the kingdom.
Not often you see Kerry men on tg4 playing hurling 👌
— Patrick Meaney (@PatrickMeaney2) June 6, 2015
https://twitter.com/_oconnell7/status/607225094864269312
