Super Stephens find extra gear

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.

The dismissals proved a turning point, as the city side drove into the game irresistibly when their skipper got the line and won comfortably in the end.

Conditions were wet and slippery, but not a patch on last week’s monsoon, and both sides were far crisper in their play.