Hurler Joey Holden of Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny, pictured ahead of the AIB All-Ireland GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship Semi-Final, which takes place this Sunday, December 18th at Croke Park at 3.30pm. The AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships features some of #TheToughest players from communities all across Ireland. It is these very communities that the players represent that make the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships unique. Now in its 32nd year supporting the GAA Club Championships, AIB is extremely proud to once again celebrate the communities that play such a role in sustaining our national games.
By Cian O’Connell
Tradition matters to Ballyhale Shamrocks. An appreciation for hurling and a lust for winning has been passed through the generations.
Founded in 1972 silverware continues to be gleaned. Twenty Kilkenny championships, 12 Leinster crowns, and eight AIB All-Ireland Club titles have been accumulated.
Joey Holden acknowledges that it remains a staggering success story. “It has been unreal, we recently launched a book looking back on the 50 years and I suppose beyond that 50 years about what happened previous to that,” Holden says.
“It is great, it is great that there is the connection. A lot of the players playing today have a connection to previous teams that would have won - maybe it stems from that. Passing down that tradition and that love for hurling ultimately drives us on.”
Tales about how past players performed when cups were won counts for something. “Certainly I would have grown up listening to stories about Ger Fennelly playing in county finals and all of the Fennellys playing in county finals, Maurice Mason lording it at centre back,” Holden recalls.
“These are things that maybe you don't realise when you're a youngster, but now that I'm more experienced and older, reflecting back at times you remember them things thinking that was all I listened to when I was growing up.
“It is certainly engrained within you, that love for hurling, trying to emulate the players that have gone past.”
Ballyhale Shamrocks made it five Kilkenny SHC titles in a row in October.
The 2022 campaign commenced with Holden travelling, but when his father Patrick, a former Shamrocks player and administrator passed away, he returned to Ireland.
Inevitably Holden returned to wear the famous white and green shirt again. It was enjoyable to simply hurl for Ballyhale once more. “In Ballyhale we love hurling, we love challenging ourselves,” Holden replies.
“On the day of a match maybe don't tell me that because you're so nervous before the game, you have the pre game nerves, you don't feel great. Once you get going you just love the challenge. That is what we love in Ballyhale, we love setting ourselves challenges, trying to represent the jersey as best we can.”
There is a sense of pride too about the manner in which Ballyhale have repeatedly recovering following setbacks. Undoubtedly the 2022 AIB All-Ireland Club SHC final defeat to Ballygunner hurt, but Shamrocks have demonstrated resilience in the intervening months.
Responding to losses has been part of Shamrocks’ history. “Absolutely, we have, but they are easy things to say,” Holden replies.
“Ultimately it is your actions that will decide how well you perform on the day. We have to prepare ourselves last week and this week for the big push with Ballygunner. They are All-Ireland champions, we aren't, they have the trophy.
“We have a chance to maybe change that on Sunday. We cannot win anything on Sunday, but we can give ourselves a chance to move into an All-Ireland final. It is a serious battle ahead, but hopefully we can step up to the mark.”
