The hurling action in Kilkenny last weekend left many clubs with different emotions. For some it was the elation of having reached their goal for the year, for others it was a case of being so close and yet so far. For some it was the relief of having held on to their current status, and for two clubs it was the disappointment of dropping down a grade.
Pride of place this week has to go to St Lachtain’s of Freshford and Blacks & Whites of Skeoughvosteen on winning their respective titles. The intermediate grade is never an easy one to win, take it from me, I know I've been there, and who knows after last weekend’s results I could be there again. Freshford have been knocking on the door the last few years, at times they have looked very good and other times they will feel they had let themselves down because in recent years they have squandered big leads. But those disappointments over the last few years I'm sure were well forgotten last Sunday evening. The joy and emotion of having landed the title that gave them their passage back to the senior ranks after 23 years was clear for all to see when the final whistle went last Sunday. Michael Kavanagh may have seven All-Irelands, 11 Leinster medals, and four All-Stars at home but this title will rank up there with the best of them. The same could be said of Ollie O'Connor and John Costelloe, both have given plenty for the cause down the years, the latter may not have been as decorated a player as Kavanagh but for me he is Mr St Lachtain’s. I've never seen the man play a bad game for his club down through the years, and his man of the match award was well merited. Any thoughts of retirement for both these players will most certainly be shelved. The younger lads can't be left out either, guys like Eoin Guinan, Bill Beckett, Noel McGree, and John Fitzpatrick have been very much to the fore all season. As games go it was very enjoyable, both teams initially had a right go at each other before becoming slightly cagey just before halftime. The Freshford men just found it that little bit easier to find the target, they were a bit more experienced and battle hardened which you have to be for this grade. Dicksboro certainly lost nothing in defeat, they must have one of the youngest squads in any adult grade in Kilkenny at present and their time will definitely come. They will be disappointed when they look back at the video on how much ball they gave to John Costelloe.
Blacks & Whites also had a day to remember when they comfortably saw off the challenge of John Lockes to land the Junior championship. This club may be one of the smallest in the county but my God they can take great credit and pride from their achievements both on and off the field over the last number of years. They are anything if not progressive - some of the best facilities in the county can be found down Skeough-way and now they have the hurlers. They may have been underdogs last Sunday but they sure didn't hurl like it, then again with my old pal Pat O'Neill at the helm they were always going to be well coached. The John Lockes men made the early running but failed to put their advantage on the scoreboard, too many times their efforts fell short of the range. The Blacks & Whites keeper John Murphy was busy but never under pressure because the Lockes full forward line were so far out the field. The Skeough men on the other hand were far more economical with their possession; their scoring chief Niall Kennedy had an afternoon to savour landing 12 of his side’s tally. Most days that tally would get you 'man of the match' but on this occasion I'd have to go for fullback James Brennan, he was a colossus at the back. Callan will have to regroup, it's well documented that they have good underage teams coming through; if they can keep their heads and stick together they have the ability to bridge that gap.
I have spoken about the joy and elation for some teams, now it’s my disappointment section!
Tullaroan’s joy in retaining their senior status was Gowran's heartbreak. Firstly congrats to the men with the green sash on their backs, they fully deserved their victory on the day. The man voted 'hurler of the year' only hours earlier, Tommy Walsh, led the way and like sheep through a gap the rest followed. It wasn't a great contest, in fact it wasn't even a good one, too many frees led to a stop-start encounter. The result saw Gowran return to the Intermediate grade after 17 eventful and enjoyable years at Kilkenny's top level. It's disappointing to drop down but I can't say it wasn't on the cards; we had escaped through bitter stubbornness and pride during the last two campaigns. The one surprising aspect though is that we took four points from our league campaign unlike the last two when no victories were obtained. However we still found ourselves in trouble. The older players who landed titles will have to reassess their position in the springtime but it will be the young guns who will come to the fore and lead the way. The one thing I am certain of is that they will get all the help and encouragement that they'll require.
The Intermediate relegation battle was ironically decided in Gowran, maybe someone was trying to tell us something. Graiguenamanagh were desperately unlucky in the drawn game, they seemed to have weathered Thomastown's challenge only to be hit with a late goal. This time around however they made no mistake. Both teams battled away but the class of one man shone brightest. Eddie Walsh was the main difference between the sides, his scoring ability did the trick for the Graig men.
All that action that I spoke about could be described a hors d'oeuvres for the main course this Sunday; yes it's senior county final time once again. The defending champions Ballyhale Shamrocks will try to emulate the county team by landing the four-in-a-row. James Stephens stand in their way for the second year. Realistically it’s hard to look beyond the mighty Shamrocks men, you'd imagine they would have to have an off day and the Village would have to improve quite a bit from their semi-final display. The Shamrocks can go through momentary lapses of concentration, if it happens again this Sunday the Village men will have to capitalise on it. It will be interesting to see who Jackie picks up, will it be Shefflin after winning his ninth All-Star or will it be TJ as he was the man with the scoring touch in the semi-final. It's a nightmare scenario for the Village selectors, but as a Gowran man this week I'd still rather be in their position. I hope it turns out to be a good game. The records show Carrickshock achieved the four-in-the-row back in the forties, I think by 5 o'clock next Sunday they will be joined in the history books by the Shamrocks.
Sunday is also a big day out for Lisdowney and Fenians, Johnstown who have the honour of contesting the B minor final.
Congratulations to all six Kilkenny players who won All-Stars last weekend and to Tommy on his 'player of the year' award.
