The Kilkenny clubs have done it again.
For the seventh year in a row, the Kilkenny champions have gone on to win the Leinster intermediate club hurling championship. This year, it was Graigue Ballycallan who followed county glory with a Leinster title when they defeated Portlaoise by eight points on a scoreline of 2-18 to 0-15 in Nowlan Park in the final.
Leinster Intermediate Hurling Champions 2018, what a year….what a team @buff_egan pic.twitter.com/mrramGaHzs
— Graigueballycallan (@graiguebcGAA) December 1, 2018
That wasn’t the county’s only success on Saturday. Dunnamaggin got the double-header off to a great start in the county grounds winning the Leinster junior title which means that Kilkenny clubs have done the clean sweep – winning Leinster junior and intermediate titles – in four of the last five years.
That’s pure and utter domination and when they county is producing youngsters like Graigue/Ballycallan are, it’s easy to see why.
Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan chipped in with 1-1 from play in their defeat of the Laois champions but it was the performances of their two livewire corner forwards, neither of them a day over 20 that really caught the eye.
19-year-old Aaron Brennan scored 1-3 from open play and the Portlaoise backs had no answer for his pace, dazzling footwork and deadly finishing in Nowlan Park.
Aaron Brennan in action for Kilkenny under-17s two years ago
His points were taken with the type of composure, ruthlessness and conviction that we’ve come to associate with all the great Kilkenny forwards and given his youth, his potential is unlimited.
His partner in crime Sean Ryan, was even more devastating on the other side of the field. After a decent start by Portlaoise, he hit them where it hurts, putting a sixth minute goal on a silver plate for Eddie Brennan with a pinpoint pass across the pitch.
Ryan, a younger brother of Kilkenny senior Billy, went onto score four of the finest from play and the sight of him linking up with the younger Brennan for a second half beauty was a sight for every Kilkenny eye in the place.
These are two men to watch. Graigue Ballycallan and Dunnamaggin are two clubs who will take some beating in the All-Ireland series of this competition.
See the glorious highlights for yourself on Buff Egan’s Snapchat.
