JAMES STEPHENS collected the Kilkenny SHC title at a damp Nowlan Park yesterday, where 8,742 spectators saw an entertaining replay after last week’s draw disputed by two fully committed sides – sometimes too committed, as evidenced by the second-half sendings off of Jackie Tyrrell, captain of the new champions, and Ballyhale’s Colin Fennelly.

JACKIE TYRRELL admitted that he thought he’d cost James Stephens their chance of the Kilkenny senior title when he was sent off in yesterday’s county decider.