AROUND Kilkenny, if the names Shefflin, Cody and Holden come in conversation, the likelihood is that hurling will be the topic, with Henry, Brian and Joey having captained the Noresiders to All-Ireland success at the highest level, Henry considered one of the best to ever play the game and Brian possibly the greatest manager of a sports team this country has seen.

If the chat included just Shefflin and Holden, there would be a chance that Ballyhale was the topic. The tiny village is home to the most successful hurling club in the history of the All-Ireland club championship, six-time winners Ballyhale Shamrocks. It has produced some of the finest stickmen to have graced the planet, and the Shefflins and Holdens have been prominent in that success story. Cody had a couple of triumphs at that grade too, with city outfit James Stephens.