When Ballyhale Shamrock last won the Kilkenny senior hurling championship in 2014, Henry Shefflin marked his fifth and final county triumph with two-points. Already in possession of his tenth All-Ireland's winners medal with Kilkenny, the club season would run all the way through to St. Patrick's Day in 2015 for Shefflin & co.
Kilmallock, marking the first appearance of any Limerick club in the All-Ireland club final, were ultimately no match for Ballyhale; their third national title in Shefflin's era. Quietly descending from the immediacy of the public eye in some style, Shefflin was back today as Ballyhale began what may be another impressive run into 2019.
From player to manager, Henry Shefflin has overseen Ballyhale Shamrock's latest triumph on the county seen; a 2-20 to 2-17 defeat of Bennettsbridge in Nowlan Park. In his first year since taking over the role with his brother Tommy, the pair can now look forward to the provincial championships.
Speaking to TG4 in the immediate aftermath, Shefflin was still in the process of taking it all in.
"I would've loved to have been out there, love to be a part of it because I know it's very special for the club and the community.
"[But] that was my dream when I came in here, that we could get back to this stage and perform.
Ever so slightly critical of his side's slack in performance during the second-half, Ballyhale went from having a 10-point lead at the half-way mark to winning out with just a 3-point margin.
"Look, we scored 2-20, and that's our target everyday, to score over 20 scores ... so absolutely thrilled and delighted [with that.]
Beyond the sporting ramifications, Shefflin took the time to pay tribute to Eoin Doyle; a young member of the Ballyhale club who died in tragic circumstances earlier this year.
"I'm just delighted for his family, and you know, all over the country this day is a special day, because of the community, because of the bond, and I'm absolutely delighted for Johnny and Ber and Dearbhla and Clodagh who would have had a hard, hard year.
"But they've been really behind us, and I would have loved if Eoin was here today, but he looked down on us last week, so I'm happy that we were looking up to him today."
Tháinig TJ Reid agus Henry Shefflin chun caint linn!@BallyhaleGAA @gaaleinster @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/YH2FVjnlb7
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 28, 2018
Ballyhale Shamrocks will now wait to play the winners of Camross vs Naomh Eanna in the Leinster semi-final.
