Doherty and Donnelly delight in rare double for Thomastown

An incredible 12 months for Thomastown came a perfect ending as they won only their second ever Kilkenny SHC title.

Fresh from landing domestic, provincial and national intermediate success, the club landed the big one on Sunday.

Noel Doherty oversaw the win from afar and was almost lost for words at what his team had achieved.

“It’s hard to know what to say, I’m nearly stuck for words but the lads were incredible.

“They controlled the game from start to finish and took the right options and hurt O’Loughlins on the scoreboard.

“The way we played it was like it was the first round of the championship rather than a final so I’m just delighted for the players and the way they showed up again,” he said.

“They’ve showed up all year. Any question marks that were hanging over their heads are now well and truly gone.”

The game was played in tough conditions but Doherty always knew the team would deal with that in their stride.

“It was a tough day for hurling and there is no getting away from that, but the work those lads have put in, they live for days like that,” he said. “Their lives revolve around the game.

“When the conditions go like that, you just have to live with it and adapt to the situation.

“These lads have been living with their hurls all their lives and they are at every match and it’s paid off for them,” the manager added.

After knocking on the door for the last few years at intermediate, last year’s win seems to have given the club a huge jolt of belief and confidence.

“We’re a well conditioned and strong team who have put in serious work over the last number of years,” the manager said.

“They are a credit to themselves and to their families and community.

“The lads had a couple of tough years but it’s testament to their character that they’ve bounced back. This win is for the management teams that came before us as well and we are just lucky enough to have been able to make the extra step with them and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

John Donnelly was man of the match on the day with four points from play and he described their will to win during Sunday’s game.

“Every day you go out, you have to hit lads and tackle,” he said. I wasn’t at the final last year but a lot of my friends were and they couldn’t get over the physicality of it.

“We were still an intermediate team then and we definitely had doubts if we went senior would we be able to compete.

“It’s just hard to imagine now that we are the best team in the county.

“You can’t overthink our history and you can become anxious if you do. You still have to come out and hurl the match and no matter what happens in the future we are always going to be the champions of 2024.”

Another Leinster campaign beckons for Donnelly and his team-mates but this time as senior kingpins.

“When we won the intermediate last year, it was definitely the best three or four months of my hurling career,” he said.

“Just the enjoyment of going to Wexford, Newry and Wicklow and places like that. You see the supporters here, they travelled with us everywhere last year.

“It was such an enjoyable journey,” he finished. “Now I’d love to go on another one.”