Larkin: Village will need a miracle

IT’S funny how the wheel turns. On St Patrick’s Day 2005, James Stephens were Kilkenny, Leinster and All-Ireland club senior hurling champions.

A year on they were again Kilkenny and Leinster champions, pipped at the All-Ireland semi-final stage by eventual champions Portumna.

Yet here we are on the eve of the Kilkenny SHC final and The Village are rank outsiders. In the last couple of years a new ‘old’ power has emerged in Kilkenny club hurling, in the form of Ballyhale Shamrocks. Powered by county stars and perennial All Stars Henry Shefflin and Cha Fitzpatrick, Ballyhale have won the last two Kilkenny senior titles.