EVEN as Kilkenny completed their four-in-a-row All-Ireland SHC success last month, another Kilkenny team was preparing to do the same thing, albeit on a different level.

HOW do you predict a winner from these two? Three years ago, in 2006, a Ballyhale Shamrocks side whose talents had been flagged inside Kilkenny for some years finally made the breakthrough, winning the club its first county senior title in 15 years.

Club senior hurling titles in Kilkenny, Clare, Meath, Kildare, Mayo, Wicklow and London were up for grabs this afternoon, with Ballyhale Shamrocks amongst those tasting victory as they captured their third successive Kilkenny crown.

There were shocks on the double in the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship as reigning champions Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny were dismissed by Birr while Dublin champions Ballyboden St. Enda’s have booked a place in the Leinster final at the first time of asking.

All-Ireland Club hurling champions Ballyhale Shamrocks had to dig deep before registering a five points win over Carlow side Mount Leinster Rangers in their Leinster Championship opener at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow this afternoon.

Ballyhale Shamrocks strolled past Loughrea to win the All Ireland Club Hurling final by 3-12 to 2-8 in front of over 25,000 spectators at Croke Park.