Michael Walsh and Mark Nolan react to Dicksboro's Under 21 Hurling Final victory

It may have arrived a few months later than expected but nobody in Palmerstown will have cared as Dicksboro claimed the under-21 crown.

Michael Walsh managed the city side to victory over Shamrocks and was delighted that all their hard work paid off in the end.

“It’s just unbelievable,” he said. “We’ve had three games in this championship, one in November, one in January and now one in February, but we got the chance to put in a lot of work over the last few weeks for the final and it certainly showed.

“We played very well in the second half and the lads just play how they train and in fairness they have trained very hard over the last few weeks.

“It’s a fantastic result for the club.”

The Dicksboro boss, who led the club to under-17 and under-19 glory in 2021, was quick to praise Shamrocks and knew what it took to defeat a side that included Dean Mason, Eoin Cody and Darragh Corcoran.

“I’ve so much admiration for the Shamrocks as a club and as players they have achieved so much in Kilkenny and beyond,” he said.

“They are a fantastic club and with the greatest respect when you do beat them it’s an extra boost as you know you were up against a fine team.

“They just never know when to stop and if every club had what they have, they would be doing alright.”

Mark Nolan captained Dicksboro to victory in a game where he chipped in with a couple of points and he is hopeful this can be the springboard to kick on at senior level over the next few seasons.

“It’s not everyday you can say you beat Shamrocks in a county final as they are a tremendous club and a tremendous team,” he said.

“I’m just very proud of our team as they are very young and they have won all the way up through underage even from Féile and hopefully a few of us can break onto the senior team in the club now.”