Ballyhale Shamrocks showed a never-say-die spirit to fight their way to a share of the points against Danesfort in the Kilkenny senior hurling league on Saturday.

Oulart-The-Ballagh (Wexford) 0-17 O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 3-17: The emphatic nature of this O’Loughlin Gaels’ victory was made all the more remarkable by the fact they didn’t score for the opening 12 minutes, after which they trailed by five points.

Clara 2-12 O’Loughlin Gaels 1-13: Let’s start at the end, if only because there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. At the very end, after the hurly-burly was done, after the battle was lost and won. That’s where the backdrop to Clara’s second Kilkenny SHC title in three seasons, and third ever, was painted.