Shefflin shines on a perfect day for Shamrocks

WHATEVER about the quality of the match – and it wasn’t the classic generally forecast – let no-one be in any doubt about the quality of this Ballyhale Shamrocks team, nor their right today to call themselves the best hurling club in Ireland.

What a journey they’ve had; champions for the fourth year in-a-row in the All-Ireland champion county, Kilkenny, champions in Leinster after a hard campaign which resulted in wins over Oulart-The-Ballagh, Ballyboden St Enda’s and Tullamore, then conquerors of the Cork and Munster champions Newtownshandrum in the All-Ireland semi-final, that was hardship enough.

Yesterday, however, they were faced with their biggest test of all, and on the biggest stage.