Liam Blanchfield played a key role, scoring a goal and winning a penalty as Bennettsbridge defeated Tullaroan in the Kilkenny SHC quarter final on Saturday afternoon.
Blanchfield wore the number 28 jersey having been a big doubt coming into the game, but he overcame his injury issues to help The Bridge into the semi-finals for the second year in a row.
The game went to extra-time with the teams tied on 1-19 apiece after the hour but Bennettsbridge kicked on in the additional period, buoyed by a clever flicked goal by Blanchfield.
The 27-year-old fell out of favour having made his debut for the Kilkenny seniors in 2016, starting that year's All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary, but he was called back into the fold this year by Derek Lyng.
Dan Shanahan is part of the Bennettsbridge coaching team and the Waterford legend hailed the full forward for his performance, speaking to KCLR.
“I think Liam has been questioned a lot in Kilkenny, but I work with Liam Blanchfield, I know how good he is," said Shanahan, who has been involved with the club for the last number of years.
"He’s on one leg today, he’s in a boot for his ankle, couldn’t train—he trained in runners on Tuesday and in boots for the first time on Friday."
Blanchfield was named as Clubber man-of-the-match and speaking to Paul Jenkins, he said the squad have great belief that they can win the club's first county senior title since 1971.
They last reached the final in 2018 but weren't far away last year, losing to eventual champs O'Loughlin Gaels by three points in the semi-final.
Before that, they went on a remarkable run between 2014 and 2016, going unbeaten in club championship hurling for two full seasons as they backed up an All-Ireland junior title with the intermediate the following season.
Enda Morrissey, Enda Cleere, Jason Cleere, Sean Morrissey, Hugh O'Neill, Rob Lennon, Blanchfield and his brother Kevin are among the survivors from that team.
"We think we're good enough to win a county final...It's only in the last two years that everyone in the dressing room believes it. It's what we're looking for," he said.
7 February 2016; Bennettsbridge team-mates, from left, Seán Morrissey, Nickey Cleere, and Robert Lennon celebrate. AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Final, Abbeyknockmoy v Bennettsbridge. Croke Park, Dublin.
"We haven't won a senior county title since 1971. That's what we're chasing, we're chasing that dream."
"These are the games that stand to you. It wasn't simple today, it was there 'til the death. Tullaroan are a massive team, they never stop fighting and we're glad to get over that now."
An All-Ireland college's and minor medallist, Blanchfield says he was in a boot the week before the game but was intent on playing through the pain barrier.
"I was in a boot there last week. My foot is in a bit of bother. I haven't done much training since the last Tullaroan match, but these are the games you want to be playing in.
"It's do-or-die. I was cramping up after full-time, I didn't know if I'd be coming out in extra-time but it's a team performance, 1 to 30. There's nights we've forty lads down training, we're all chasing that one dream."
"We'll go for a few pints tonight, and get the recovery in tomorrow," he said.
