THE PERFECT ‘HALE STORM

Shamrocks in transition but Henry’s man to take them to top

AS much as things change, some things always stay the same – like Ballyhale Shamrocks chasing Leinster titles.

They are an hour from a record ninth crown and, on the face of things, it’s simply business as usual for a club that won the Allireland only three years ago.

The same big names are still there and firing; Michael Fennelly, as captain, Colin Fennelly (below, left), who hit 4-4 against Naomh Eanna in the semi-finals, TJ Reid and Joey Holden.

Yet the reality is the relatively small club, which picks from a parish of between 1500 and 2000 people, is in huge transition.

Just seven players that lined out in that 2015 All-irekand final win over Kilmallock were in the team to start against Naomh Eanna.

Adrian Mullen, who hit 3-38 for the Kilkenny minors in last year’s Leinster championship, is the rising star in attack. Dean Mason, the goalkeeper on that minor team, and Eoin Cody, who played up front for them, have graduated into Ballyhale’s first team too.

Various others have also come through and they’ve a new boss in Henry Shefflin (below) yet still they’ve simply kept on winning.

Colin Fennelly said: “There has been a massive transition. Our minor team won two years ago, our U-21 team won last year and then with Henry retiring from playing it has added up to huge change in the club. But everything moves on and we are back winning and that’s the main thing.

“That’s probably what a lot of clubs find hard to do after they’ve won a bit – to come back and go at it again.

But our young lads have stepped up massively, Evan

Shefflin has been huge at half-back,

Eoin Cody and

Adrian Mullen in the forwards.

“Henry has obviously brought something to it too. He is able to get that out of players, it’s what Brian Cody has been doing for years. Henry is now able to do it with Ballyhale.”

The Shefflin-cody comparison is obvious and one that will only gain more traction if Ballyhale keep winning.

Fennelly said of the similarities between the iconic pair: “You would see small things, yeah. The way Henry comes around and talks to you and stuff, and the respect he has is a massive thing. But Henry would have had that as a player too. He always was a leader for our team.

“He just absolutely loves the club doing well. That’s what you want. You see now managers getting paid in certain clubs and they just kind of come down, do the job and get out again. But Henry is here for life.”