Rare hurling history up for grabs on Kilkenny final weekend

It's the biggest weekend in the Kilkenny club hurling calendar as O’Loughlin Gaels and the Shamrocks clash in this Sunday’s senior hurling championship final.

It is the third final meeting in the last five years between the clubs after Shamrocks won out in 2021 before O’Loughlins reigned supreme two years later.

With so many Kilkenny stars on show and two high profile managers on the sideline in Henry Shefflin and Brian Hogan, it’s a game that should draw a large attendance, especially with the fact it’s not being shown on free to air television.

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While Sunday’s marquee clash is the highlight of the season, it’s not the only bit of business for O’Loughlin Gaels this weekend with their second team involved in the junior championship final with Barrow Rangers 24 hours earlier.

The Paulstown-Goresbridge outfit will have plenty to say about that after advancing to their first junior final in 15 years as they look to win a first junior title since 1990.

It’s still a huge achievement for the city club to be on the verge of championship success in both tiers and if it did come to pass, it would mark a significant piece of history in the annals of Kilkenny GAA.

Only twice since the establishment of the competitions have teams achieved success on the double with Mooncoin in 1908 and Carrickshock in 1941 collecting end of season glory. Even at that though, they were under the guise of two different clubs in Suirside Rovers and Hugginstown so the Gaels could create their own piece of history come Sunday evening with a number of players involved on both squads.

In similar fashion to two years ago, Shamrocks themselves have an accolade to chase as a victory over O’Loughlin’s would see them top the senior roll of honour for the first time in their history.

The Ballyhale side are currently level alongside Tullaroan on 20 titles though the Sash haven’t won at the top level since a low scoring success over Dicksboro back in 1994.

At the time of Tullaroan’s last county senior success, Shamrocks only had nine wins with their first coming in 1978 so it’s been a remarkable run of results which has seen them produce some of the best players to ever put on a Kilkenny jersey.

If the last two final meetings are anything to go by, there will be very little in it when Graigue-Ballycallan official Conor Everard calls time on Sunday’s decider.

Ticket Information

The cost of general admission for Sunday’s senior hurling final is €20 with OAPs and Students at €15 while, on Saturday, it’s €15 for the junior decider with the student and OAP concession at €10. Tickets are available to purchase online and in selected shops around the county.

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