St Lachtain's boss Steven Farrell reacts to All-Ireland semi-final win over Easkey

Just one week after winning Leinster honours, St Lachtain’s were celebrating again as they booked their ticket for next month’s All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Final.

The decider with Russell Rovers of Cork will be th 16th time that a Kilkenny side has contested the final in the third tier of club hurling since it’s inception back in 2003.

Freshford will head to Croke Park in great spirits and Steven Farrell feels his side are hitting form at the right time.

“That second half performance is probably the best we’ve played all year between a number of factors including workrate, ball to hand and picking out the man in the right position.

“Some of the scores we got were top class and when you work hard and give it everything, things fall for you and I really do believe in that”, the St Lachtain’s boss added.

The victory rounds off a busy schedule for the Kilkenny champions as they overcome tough opposition in the shape of Easkey who have competed at this stage of the junior competition over the last three seasons.

“It’s great to top off the 2024 calendar with a win and as I said to the boys it was great for them to leave everything on the pitch and give it everything and they done that.

“They were brilliant throughout and we can now look forward to a big final in the new year.

“We were on the go week after week with game after game but now that the year is completed we can look forward to a huge game on the 12th of January and the lads can enjoy that and hopefully we can be up the steps of the hoganstand on that day”.

“It’s been a short winter and it will be an enjoyable christmas in Freshford and it’s great for the lads as they’ve achieved a lot over the last few weeks”.

The flying start to the game was crucial and the St Lachtain’s manager was happy with how much pressure they inflicted on the opposition with their workrate really coming to the fore as they held Easkey scoreless for more than 20 minutes of the second half.

“We got a great start to the game with two early goals and they were vital as we then had a spell without a score so they stood to us as we went into the half-time interval.

“We were then wondering was four points enough but we told the lads to stick at what they were doing and we really increased our workrate as we knew the game was going to be won in the third quarter and we won some great breaking ball during that spell and all the lads on the field including all the subs were excellent and we are so proud of them.

“The lads will get their day out in Croke Park now and they absolutley deserve it”.

St Lachtain’s went into the game without the influence of Brian Kennedy and James Maher so to pass this test with flying colours was most pleasing for Farrell.

“ I trust every one of them lads and when we are down bodies, the next man steps up and the five lads that came on were all brilliant.

“It was a chance for the lads to shine and they done excellent and our success is down to all 40 lads in the dressing room.

“It was brilliant for the lads to come off the bench and give us the lift when we needed it the most.

“When you are missing lads, these things happen and the next lad steps up and we’ll have the two lads back the next day and we’ll look forward to that challenge”.