Larkin hoping James Stephens can ambush Ballyhale
To Kilkenny then this Sunday, where Ballyhale Shamrocks come up against James Stephens for the second year in a row So, Eoin Larkin, goal-scoring hero for The Village (as James Stephens are known) in the semi-final, what can we expect?
“Hard to find a good one this year alright, and I don’t know if you’re going to see one either on Sunday – it could be lop-sided!”
They expect to beat Ballyhale by that much? That draws a laugh: “We wouldn’t mind if we did, but they’re raging hot favourites, 1/8 at the bookies – sure you can understand that, and they after winning it for the last three years. But you never know, a county final is a strange thing, it can take on a life of its own.”
In the semi-final, James Stephens were put to the pin of their collar to beat Erin’s Own, their two goals the difference in the end, but then the Castlecomer outfit were the surprise package of the Kilkenny championship: “They were, yes, they were county intermediate champions last year so this was a huge year for them, got to a county semi-final – they can be happy with themselves. It was a strange game, we found it hard to shake them off – we missed a few chances, they missed a few. One of those games that was always going to be hard to win, no matter what.”
Not the most impressive of displays, then, while star-studded Shamrocks were giving a scoring masterclass in dismissing the challenge of O’Loughlin Gaels in the other semi-final.
Still, though, the Village have their own quota of stars, two current All Stars in Larkin and defender Jackie Tyrell, the evergreen Phil Larkin at full-back and senior panellist Donnacha Cody manning the centre-back berth. Encouraging, surely?
“It is, but we’re rebuilding at the moment, while Ballyhale are well balanced all over the field. Brian McEvoy has been persuaded to come back, he’s been around for the last two games, but he’s having fierce problems with his knee.
“Peter Barry (former Kilkenny captain) is gone though; we got on to him last year but I don’t think his heart was in it, so he definitely wasn’t going to come back this year. You can’t blame the man for that, he gave fierce service to both the club and county, you have to respect his decision.
“We’re expecting a big game from Eoin McCormack, and from Matt Ruth – we’ll all have to produce, really, if we’re to have any chance.”
One wonders, though, is the competition as fierce in Kilkenny this year as ever? With the county side having completed their historic four-in-a-row, the first team to do so unbeaten, has the feelgood factor in the county trickled down to the clubs, blunted some of the old rivalries?
“No, there is still a fierce rivalry – sure it’s one of the hardest championships to win. We went 23 years without winning, until 2004, and it’s still hugely intense. With Kilkenny we were all in it together, but as soon as that was over and done with, it’s back to the club and back to the grindstone, and fellas who were your team-mates are now the enemy.”
Two of those team-mates met in the final last year also, and Jackie Tyrell did a superb solo man-marking job on Henry Shefflin – if that happens again, it gives James Stephens a fighting chance. “Yeah, he did a great job on him last year, but it’s not an easy thing to do, to keep Henry quiet. We’ll have to see what happens, I’m sure the lads (management) have a few plans up their sleeves. We’ll be giving it everything, and with a bit of luck, you don’t know what will happen.”
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