Kerry star Fionán Mackessy explains how his move to Kilkenny side O’Loughlin Gaels came about

Star Kerry hurler Fionán Mackessy – the reigning All-Ireland Poc Fada champion – has spoken for the first time about his impending move to All Ireland-senior club championship runners-up, O’Loughlin Gaels.

The move to the Kilkenny club first came to light in February, mere weeks after the Gaels were seen off by St Thomas’ of Galway in the final in Croke Park, and has since been firmed up.

“How that came about was I got a phone call off a fella above in Kilkenny,” the Ardfert man revealed.

“He asked me did I have any interest in going hurling above in Kilkenny, but before he called me I was asked about doing work above in Kilkenny in my line of work, which would be agriculture.

“At the time I wouldn’t have thought about it at all, I was more interested in finishing our my PHD down here first and my hurling down here, Kerry hurling, playing in the Joe McDonagh.

“Then I got another phone call again about the job again and I said ‘why not give that a go?’ and got another phone call about the hurling and said ‘if I’m going to be moving three and-a-half hours up the road I can’t be coming down three or four times a week up and down the road’.

“So it looked to be a great honour for me to be able to be a Kerry representative above in Kilkenny playing club hurling up there. Sure it’s an unbelievable county, probably the home of hurling really. I just didn’t really want to turn it down, it’ll be a great experience for a year, give it a go.”

Mackessy’s departure represents a significant blow to his native St Brendans’ chances of regaining the Neilus Flynn Cup for the first time since 2013, but might it also be a blow to the county side’s fortunes? Will Mackessy continue to line out with his county while based in the Leinster county?

“I haven’t even thought about that, I’ve been so busy with my PHD and so busy with the Kerry hurling, I just finished [my PHD] today [Friday],” he said.

“All I’m thinking about now lads is the game on Sunday week against Westmeath. I haven’t thought one thing about the future. As we always say on this team and myself it’s game by game, and that’s it.”

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.