When 23-year-old Ballyduff man Pat Joe Connolly is asked to reflect on where his hurling career is about to take him, he momentarily pauses to search for the appropriate words.

Of all the signs and banners that have shot up along the Kildysart Road to celebrate the magical adventure of the local hurling team, the one by the Kellys’ front gate probably best encapsulates the boldness and historical nature of it.