Ballyhale Shamrocks have retained the Kilkenny Senior Hurling title, but the significance of that achievement pales in comparison to the tragedy that has struck the club in recent weeks.
22-year old Eugene Aylward, a member of the Ballyhale senior panel, tragically passed away after a car accident earlier this month. It is the second tragedy to grip the club in the past 18 months, with club member Eoin Doyle passing away due to a motorcycle accident in April of last year.
Ballyhale would win today's final in a relatively comfortable manner, defeating James Stephens on a scoreline of 2-21 to 1-15.
After the game, captain Michael Fennelly would dedicate the victory to both of the young men who tragically lost their lives:
To have one tragedy in a lifetime is tough on a club but to have two in 18 months has been devastating.
We lost Eoin Doyle last year, a member of our team, in a tragic accident and unfortunately only a few weeks ago we lost another team member, Eugene Aylward.
Eugene was a fun-loving character, full of smiles. If he was here today he’d be standing there, looking up smiling with a big happy face and for the next two or three days’ celebrations.
That’s the kind of lad Eugene always was. A great, great character. As some people used to say, he was a big teddy bear.
To his mother Marie, his father Pat and to his brother Cian, words, they have meaning, but actions speak louder and I hope our actions over the last couple of weeks have helped ye on that journey and gave ye some sort of comfort, no matter how small it is and this cup here is a dedication to Eugene’s name.
