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'Cha' is new Shamrocks captain
KILKENNY and All-Ireland club senior hurling champions, Shamrocks (Ballyhale) have appointed James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick as captain for the season.
The McCarthy Cup winning captain of 2008 takes over from Eamon Walsh, who skipped the club to success in the local league and championship last season as well as the Leinster and All-Ireland championships.
The appointment was confirmed at the weekend, but Fitzpatrick’s reign got off to a poor start when Shamrocks suffered their first defeat in local competition since 2008 when beaten by St Martin’s (Muckalee) in the first round of the league.
The 24-year-old is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game. He won a senior All-Ireland four in-a-row with Kilkenny and he repeated the act at local level with his club.
He also won All-Irelands at minor (2002 and 2003) and under-21 level, and three times he was honoured as an All-Star. ‘Cha’ won two All-Ireland club titles with Shamrocks.
He has enjoyed a number of good days as captain. In the past he skippered St Kieran’s College (2003) and the Kilkenny under-21 team (2004) to All-Ireland wins. One of the first major honours he enjoyed was when he helped his club win Feile-na-nGael in 1998.
‘Rackard’ and referee have a chat
KILKENNY senior team kit manager, the affable Denis ‘Rackard’ Cody nearly registered a hurling first at the weekend.
The Graignamanagh team boss was nearly the first manager booked this season. He got a bit too involved on the line during the second half of the parish deby clash between Graig and Blacks and Whites on Saturday, and referee Gerry Rafter had come and have a chat with him.
A few well chosen words, and it was matter finished.
Mr Cody, who has been with the Kilkenny team for the past 33 years, was a referee himself in the past. Indeed, he was the first match official to flash a card at a player in a local match.
He did so before the red/yellow card system was introduced officially. The proud Graig man was in charge of a match shortly before the card system came into force, and when a player transgressed, the yellow was flashed.
Breen fastest on the draw
ST MARTIN’S (Muckalee) weren’t only the team of the week in terms of a shock result, they also provided the forward who was the fastest on the draw in the 12 big matches played at the weekend.
Martin’s full-forward Thomas Breen picked off the quickest score in all the games played in the senior and intermediate leagues. He grabbed a point within 11 seconds of the start of their surprise win over All-Ireland champions, Shamrocks (Ballyhale).
Sean Kealy from the Blacks and Whites was another quick scorer. He pointed after a mere 20 seconds in their Saturday evening clash with parish rivals, Graignamanagh.
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Weather for Kilkenny
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
