Henry Shefflin says a lack of injuries was a major factor in Ballyhale's success this year.
The Shamrocks were crowned Kilkenny senior hurling champions before adding the Leinster crown following facile victories over Naomh Eanna and Ballyboden St Enda's, making it a dream debut season for Shefflin as Ballyhale manager.
“Things have gelled nicely for us and it’s just been one of those years when things have just gone well. We’ve had no injuries," the Kilkenny legend told the Irish Examiner after yesterday's provincial final in Carlow.
"Robbie Lodge has done a great job on the physio. It’s unheard of, really, with all the matches and for the likes of Mick (Fennelly) and TJ (Reid) to still be fit on the 1st of December,”
Shefflin was delighted with the commitment shown by his players.
“They are working very hard, putting in the shift, and we are getting the bounce as a management team fresh in,” he continued.
“They are probably hanging on our words a lot and that probably changes over the years, no doubt about it. Things have just worked very well for us.
“Even in the first half when it was tight, we had 10 wides and we wouldn’t have been happy with that, a 41% conversion rate. We experienced that in the club championship at home, where we went in at half-time not shooting the lights out.
“We knew there was more in us in the second half and that stood to us.”
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