Ballyhale Shamrocks are Leinster club senior hurling champions for a fourth straight year, their 12th provincial title in total – but almost a week on from their win, some corners are still asking how or why the Shamrocks wound up leaving things as close as they did to see the game over the line.
The Kilkenny champions surged into a 14-point lead at one stage but were pegged back by a dogged Kilmacud Crokes in the second half, the score cut to a single point at one stage.
They did prevail, lift the Leinster title once again, and can now look forward to a mouthwatering game against defending champions Ballygunner in just under a fortnight’s time.
It was a day of great highs & lows but well done to all who played their part in history! Lots more photos and videos to follow. #PassionLivesHere
— Kilmacud Crokes GAA (@KCrokesGAAClub) December 5, 2022
Photo credit: Steven Dagg & Sportsfile pic.twitter.com/e0SCBC5kBF
See also: Shamrocks secure another Leinster title to set up an All Ireland semi-final with Ballygunnar
Joint manager of Kilmacud Crokes Kieran Dowling was asked what was said at halftime to inspire such a huge comeback fight
Speaking to Scoreline Dowling just reminded his players to go back to the basics;
“We just asked them to go back to the basics of what we do and do it well. Don’t stop moving, move your feet, get the ball, and drive on. Swamp them with tackles, turn them over. When you get the chance take it. Just go hard and leave no regrets.”
“In fairness, they worked very hard to do it, it was brilliant.”
While they may not have won the hurling, they did finish out as Leinster senior football champions though with Kilmacud beating The Downs 1-12 to 0-08 in the second game of the day at Croke Park.
You can listen back to the full interview with Kieran Dowling on Scoreline Extra below:
