Last week news broke that Kilkenny All Ireland winner and All Star Eoin Larkin will be taking over the management of Carlow Senior hurling side Ballinkillen.
All though having a glittering intercounty career Eoin is no stranger to club success earning three county titles, two Leinster titles and an All Ireland Championship with James Stephens. Ballinkillen have tasted success themselves only twice in the Carlow Championship with the last coming in 2001.
The team they beat in that years final, Mount Leinster Ranger have went onto win the title nine times since then while Ballinkillen have appeared in the final twice since. Even beating the blue and gold of Ballinkillen in the 2020 final.
Speaking with KCLR at the weekend Larkin seemed quite appreciative of the opportunity stating,
“When you stop playing, you ultimately want to stay involved and naturally the next step is management. It’s something I have been interested in , I’ve been doing a bit with underage teams and u19’s. I hadn’t anything planned, I just got a call off the chairman. We had a conversation, I met the Chairman and Ballinkillen officials and they offered me the job. They obviously liked what I had to say and I’m really looking forward to it.”
When asked if his aim was to do one better then last years defeat in the final he simply replied ” Obviously, ultimately I want to be successful”, while going onto explaining the work ethic that will be required.