Billy Drennan scored 1-8 for Kilkenny in his debut National Hurling League game against Antrim at Corrigan Park on Saturday.
The forward was the star player for Kilkenny last year as the county won the All-Ireland U20 title. Derek Lyng, the man who managed Kilkenny to that underage title, is now senior boss.
"He's a little secret weapon of Kilkenny's. He was really good in the U20s," nine-time Kilkenny All-Ireland winner Jackie Tyrrell said on League Sunday.
"The great thing about him is he's able to win his own ball, and has a really, really great eye for goal. He just spots a gap in the defence [for his goal], and takes it on. It's just a little jink of the left hand into the corner. He hits the frees.
"He has a great hand, is able to retain possession, and set up scores. He's kind of a target man inside. If you are stuck with a ball, you can just go long [to him]. This lad will win ball after ball. He'll be out in front. He's quite strong, he's physical enough."
2 May 2022; Peter McDonald, left, and Billy Drennan of Kilkenny celebrate after their side's victory in the oneills.com Leinster GAA Hurling Under 20 Championship Semi-Final match between Kilkenny and Galway at O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Anthony Daly added that Drennan appears to have "bulked up" quite a bit from last year's U20 campaign.
"He did need that, and he probably has a bit more to go in the S&C," said Tyrrell.
"He's a real finisher. The thing is that if he comes through, it'll allow TJ Reid to float in beside him maybe, go out the field, because you have a focal point for the attack.
"There's a lot of talk about Billy, and it was great to see him coming through yesterday. It'll give him confidence, he got Man of the Match. It'll be great for Derek that some of these U20s are coming through."
See Also: Jackie Tyrrell Confident Kilkenny Won't Suffer Same Fate As Manchester United
