“Aw Jesus, how is this going to work?” – Reid’s journey from Kilkenny’s third choice ‘keeper to mainstay at centre back
It’s been quite a journey for Richie Reid, from third choice goalkeeper to first choice centre back on the Kilkenny team. As is the way in many rural hurling clubs, Reid was the youngster with the good eye and the safe hands who, in the absence of Ballyhale’s first choice goalkeeper, was asked to mind […]
2 years ago
“It makes these club games all the more exciting” – Venue decision bang on for All-Ireland semi-finals
The All-Ireland club semi-finals will take place in county grounds this year, rather than the national stadium. All four club semi-finals were played in Croke Park last season but the general consensus was that they were lost in GAA HQ. The double-bill of hurling semi-finals certainly wasn’t helped by the fact it took place on […]
2 years ago
When your biggest rivals are only over the road
Ballygunner’s second half performance against Na Piarsaigh told Eddie Brennan all he needed to know. “If ever a challenge was thrown down to a team to say ‘are we still as hungry,’” says Brennan, ” that was it.” TJ Reid’s interview after Ballyhale’s victory over Kilmacud Crokes told him all he needed to know about […]
3 years ago
“I was so nervous going into those first few games” – Holden says the nerves don’t go away with age
Right about now, Joey Holden was supposed to be travelling central and south America but instead, as has been the case so many times before, the only destination on his mind is Jones’ Road. Ballyhale Shamrocks take on Ballygunner this Sunday in one of the most eagerly anticipated club games in years and even though […]
3 years ago
“That’s probably a tradition that’s passed on now.” – Eoin Cody on learning from Henry from a young age
He’s just 21 years of age but there have already been a few watershed moments in Eoin Cody’s career. Thankfully for him, Kilkenny and Ballyhale, they’ve all worked out for the better. One was when he was very young and when he was looking up at his uncle Henry Shefflin, who was winning everything there […]
3 years ago
“I’d know TJ inside out. He was just staring at me” – Fennelly on making himself big before TJ’s free
There are drawings on the wall behind him and there’s a hi-vis on the chair. Something’s telling me there was a hard-hat knocking around too. Colin Fennelly is a project manager for a construction company called Virtus and on All-Ireland final week, in his office up in Dublin, the Ballyhale man looks like a busy […]
4 years ago