No 'reining in' star Limerick hurler’s sporting talent

AFTER GALLOPING up and down hurling pitches for the last few months Kyle Hayes decided to let somebody else do the hard work for a change.

Less than a week after his star performance in the All-Ireland final victory over Kilkenny, the Kildimo-Pallaskenry GAA club man was back in sporting action.

The man named Player of the Year by The Sunday Game after a dominant 2023 season made his harness racing debut on Friday evening in West Cork (see below).

Kieran McCarthy, sports editor of the Southern Star, shared on Twitter that Kyle and Newtown Shadow took part in a race. Kyle is a shared owner of the horse Newtown Shadow with Jamie Hurley, Reenascreena.

"Reports say Kyle Hayes was as able with the reins as he is with the hurley," tweeted Kieran.

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The excellent photo of a smiling Kyle was taken by his good friend Jamie Hurley, who gave Kyle a loan of his silks for his debut.

According to the Irish Harness Racing Association website, harness racing is a form of horse racing in which standardbred horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart. Standardbred horses can develop speeds of up to 30mph.

Not one sodden sliotar escaped Kyle's velcro-like clutches in the All-Ireland final so there could be other hurling managers getting their players harness racing to develop soft hands!