The famed James Stephen’s club are no strangers when it comes to winning Kilkenny county titles but you still got the sense that last Sunday’s well-deserved victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks was extra special.
I suppose it could be down to the fact that many pundits, myself included, felt they might have let their chance slip in the drawn game.
The Village men faced a big challenge last Sunday against a star studded Shamrocks outfit, but for the second week in a row they met the task head on.
Conditions were far better than the first day but fancy hurling was still out of the question. This was another day for rolling up the sleeves and getting stuck in.
The former Laois star Niall Rigney who guided the Village men to their ninth title must take great credit for having his players both physically and, more importantly, mentally right for last Sunday’s contest.
The key to this success wasn't asking Jackie Tyrrell or Eoin Larkin to contribute more, it was getting the supporting cast to dig deeper.
I don't know what Rigney and his backroom team did during the year training-wise, but some of the players that had looked a bit flat the last couple of seasons were back to their best.
Players like David McCormack, Donacha Cody and even the bold Philly Larkin looked fresher than they had been for a few seasons. It was clear to see that the Village side had the upper hand when it came to hunger and freshness. But these two ingredients will only bring you so far, they also had the belief and skills of the game to get over the line in front.
While this was no game for the faint hearted, it was one I enjoyed immensely. Alright, at times it did boil over, but I thought it was well controlled by referee Eamonn Mansfield. With so much going on off the ball he needed all his experience to keep control.
Jackie Tyrrell can have no complaints about receiving a red card, what he did was totally out of order. I did think Colm Fennelly was unfortunate to get a second yellow and for what it’s worth I don't think he would have got it only for Jackie's moment of madness.
The Shamrocks opened brightly and looked to be well up for the game. David Hoyne posted their first point after good approach play by Henry. Eoin Larkin replied for the Village moments later, then TJ Reid popped the Shamrocks back in front with a well taken effort.
The first quarter was tough hurling, with no side giving an inch, but it was played in the right spirit of the game.
Unfortunately that all changed when Jackie and Henry had a difference of opinion. That altercation was the start of a heated battle. The Shamrocks sent Michael Fennelly in to mark Jackie and in my opinion that was a huge mistake.
You didn't have to be Einstein to known what was going to happen next. The two county colleagues were guilty of some unsavoury scenes and it was no surprise to see both receive yellow cards.
It looked like the Shamrocks were sending out a message that they weren't going to be bullied. I felt TJ Reid was actually giving Jackie plenty to think about hurling wise before that move. As a result both Fennelly and Reid (TJ ) lost their way, which suited the eventual winners down to the ground.
I thought Michael Fennelly should have been moved to centreback to curb Eoin Larkin’s growing threat.
As the first half entered its final stages it looked like the Shamrocks would go in three points to the good, but then man of the match Larkin capitalised on some poor Shamrocks defending to swoop for the games only goal. To leave such a potent score-getter like Larkin unattended was criminal on behalf of the Shamrocks defence.
It got worse for the title favourites as Larkin threw over a late free to put them in the lead. What a boost that will have been to get before halftime, to go from three down to one up in the space of a few minutes. It was now very much game on.
There were more fireworks just before the start of the second half but the ref once again got it quickly under control and play resumed.
Eoin Larkin and Colm Fennelly traded points in the early stages before Jackie lost the run of himself. To be honest it came as no great surprise. He looked too psyched from minute one to last the full hour. Jackie didn't need to be getting involved as he is too good a hurler for that carry on.
His sending off didn't cost his side the game, in fact they hurled better without his presence, but it could have and that's what will annoy him.
In fairness to the rest of the Village players, they really upped their game for the remaining 25 minutes. James Stephen’s probably felt that they owed that to their captain, who has always been inspirational for their club down the years.
In hindsight it looks like Colm Fennelly’s departure was a bigger loss to the Shamrocks. They lost all momentum; in fact some of their marquee players went missing, which left Henry to plough a lone furrow upfront.
Philly Larkin was enjoying his free role at centreback. His clever passes out of the defence lead to plenty of Village scores.
Eoin Larkin, who was having the game of his life, totally controlled the last 20 minutes. His hurl was like a magic wand. Smelling victory the Village men piled on the pressure and with Eoin Larkin leading the charge there was only going to be one result.
Everything he touched turned to gold in the last quarter. He may have finished with a tally of 1-11 but it was his leadership and work rate that really caught the eye.
It was probably the best forward display in a county final since DJ in '02.
The score of the game however, has to go to fullback Thomás Keogh. This guy was outstanding in both games and if he continues in the same vein of form a call up to the senior panel wouldn't be out of the question.
It was a great victory for the James Stephens men and, as I said earlier, thoroughly deserved. They had stars all over the field, but the brightest of all was obviously Eoin Larkin. He just let his hurling do the talking.
He has been honoured with the Kilkenny captaincy for the coming year. I imagine he'll be a very popular choice and it's a job that won't faze him.
Hopefully the Village men can get passed Oulart-the-Ballagh next Sunday. It won't be an easy task without the suspended Jackie Tyrrell but if they meet the challenge head on again anything is possible.
I've heard a lot of talk during the week that the Shamrocks are finished. For me that's crazy talk; I'd see them very much in the mix again next season.
Well done to Bennettsbridge on landing their first Roinn A minor title since 1983. Themselves and Thomastown deserve great credit for providing two highly entertaining games.
To be honest, no-one deserved to lose as both teams battled with great honour for their clubs. Obviously when it takes 140 minutes to separate the sides you know how even they were. Bennettsbridge just finished that little bit stronger to land their third A county title.
