Kilkenny looking forward to SFC1 club championship restart

Project Restart gets underway this weekend for the Dublin senior football championship and for Ciarán Kilkenny it can't come quickly enough.

After over four months of lockdown the Castleknock clubman is eagerly looking forward to his club's SFC1 Group 4 Round 1 home encounter against St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh on Saturday evening in Somerton (6.30).

"A bit of a local derby. It’s going to be very competitive," said Ciarán. "And it’s been a great opportunity for guys to really bond and focus in on things with the club over the last six weeks.

"Everyone is really enjoying it, from talking to the (Dublin) guys, and we’re looking forward to playing against each other now and having a bit of fun on the field.

"We’ve a good block of time now with the club, and everyone has at least three games to play - three games where they can go out and give their best and perform.

"If they’re performing well, then they’ll get recognised and have the opportunity to be called in (to the Dublin squad).

“So it’s a clean slate for everyone to perform well - and if you do, then you have the opportunity to be called in and do the best you can, and create that competitive environment where everyone can be fighting for places.

"It’s a great opportunity for a lot of guys to put their hands up to be called in and get the opportunity - all over the country.

“But the most important thing is just enjoying playing games again. We’re lucky to be in that position again and we’re just delighted.

"You can do all the training you want, drills and stuff, but it doesn't compare," he added.

Ciarán was a busy man during lockdown with his daily skills and coaching clinics a huge hit on social media.

"The first nine weeks I was really immersed in doing skills videos online for kids on football and hurling. It was a really special time for me.

"Myself and my Mam used to go down to Coolmine train station, and we had a wall there and did a skill there every day for nine weeks.

"My Mam video-recorded it and threw her hand at doing a few skills as well. Then I would have uploaded it online on Twitter and Instagram and throughout the whole day, until 10 or 11pm, I'd be getting engagement from the kids.

"A lot of them sent messages before they went back to the club, saying they had improved on their left or their right side ... it was really inspiring to hear that they had made that improvement and I was just delighted then that they could go back to play for their club."

The other game in SFC1 Group 4 sees Kilmacud Crokes host Raheny in Silver Park on Saturday evening (6.30) with games all over the county.

One game that will attract plenty of interest is the SFC1 Group 3 clash of reigning Dublin and Leinster champions, Ballyboden St Enda's, against Clontarf in Páirc Uí Mhurchú on Saturday (6.30).

The clubs met in the early stages of last year's championship in April with Boden defeating Clontarf (0-11 to 0-10) in a tight finish in O'Toole Park courtesy of a late Ryan Basquel point.

Kilkenny paid a glowing tribute to Jack McCaffrey who is not currently linked up with the Dublin panel.

"You just have to respect his decision. You’d love to have Jack around. He’s a great person, he’s a great character, he’s a great personality.

"You can feel his energy around the group. He’s a great leader within the group.

"But also it’s a great opportunity for a lot of players to perform now in the club championship - and the great thing about Dessie (Farrell) and his management team is that he has an open door policy.

"If Jack were to decide, or any players that are performing well (to come back), they’re always welcome to come back in," added Ciarán.