Kerry’s Fionán Mackessy looks to be on his way to O’Loughlin Gaels

The beaten All-Ireland club finalists O’Loughlin Gaels could soon benefit from the addition of Kerry’s leading hurler Fionán Mackessy.

There is much speculation that Mackessy will join Brian Hogan’s side in the coming weeks when he completes a move to Kilkenny for work purposes.

O’Loughlin Gaels dethroned Ballyhale Shamrocks as Kilkenny champions in October and advanced to an All-Ireland final as Leinster champions, where they lost narrowly last month to St Thomas’.

The Kingdom centre-back currently plays with St Brendan’s Ardfert and the anticipated transfer is not yet complete.

But there is much local speculation in both counties that Mackessy, the reigning Poc Fada champion having become the first Kerryman to take the title in the Cooley Mountains last August, will link up with the current champions in preference to other clubs in the vicinity.

Mackessy’s hurling ability is reflected in his selection over the last four years (2020-’23) on the Joe McDonagh Cup team of the year.

He was on the losing side in three successive McDonagh Cup finals – to Antrim in 2020 and 2022 and Westmeath in between.

His power has made him one of the standout players at tier-two level over the last four years and he recently opened the prospect of some day making a pitch for the Kerry footballers, but a potential move to Kilkenny may kick that on into the future.

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