AS FIRST STARTS at senior hurling level go, this one was not forecast.
Liam Blanchfield did not see any game time in the absorbing drawn battle between Kilkenny and Waterford last August.
Six days later he was parachuted into the starting team before throw-in at Semple Stadium, selected at corner-forward.
The youngster played his part in Kilkenny winning an epic, clipping over three valuable points and being hauled down for a vital free converted late on by TJ Reid.
“I was taken by surprise,” says Blanchfield, as he recalls hearing news of his inclusion.
“It was in the training I think on the Tuesday before it and Brian Cody came up to me and said ‘how are you feeling?’ and I just said ‘I’m good, feeling good’.
“And he goes ‘you’re in corner forward. How do you feel now?’ I said ‘yeah, still feel good’.
“So that was it really, I was just excited for them few minutes but then you kind of have to get focused and looking forward to the match.
“It was brilliant yeah. After the game I can remember just looking around and just being swarmed by Kilkenny people, it was brilliant.”
An All-Ireland minor winner in 2014, Blanchfield found himself thrust into an environment where he was colleagues of stars he had been used to cheering on from the stands.
“It was crazy to think a couple of years ago, going to matches and seeing the likes of TJ, and Richie playing.
“To be togging out in the same dressing room is an unbelievable feeling because they’re lads that you look up to your whole life.
“The older lads were very good to me. Giving me advice and telling me not to be nervous.”
The following month Blanchfield was experiencing a maiden All-Ireland final but wound up on the losing side.
It wasn’t his only major county reversal in 2016. Last May he was part of a Kilkenny U21 team stunned by Westmeath.
“The feeling at the end of your stomach after that match, you don’t want to ever feel again.
“It’s something you don’t want to look back on too much but at the same time you kind of have to remind yourself that you don’t want to feel like that again.”
They’re primed for the opening 2017 Leinster U21 challenge tomorrow night with Dublin the opposition in Nowlan Park. Eddie Brennan was a hero of Blanchfield’s growing up, the Kilkenny manager is an obvious figure to look up to.
He’ll have some Bennettsbridge club colleagues involved as well in centre-back Jason Cleere and midfielder Sean Morrissey.
The trio have enjoyed Croke Cup wins with St Kieran’s along with a pair of All-Ireland club titles in junior and intermediate in recent years.
“The three of us would hurl with Bennettsbridge now all our lives. Myself, Sean and Jason are all the same age we would’ve played minor and the whole way up together. Robert (Lennon) is three years older, he’s part of the (Kilkenny) senior panel as well from Bennettsbridge.
“Back in the ‘60s/70s you’d hear of the Bennettsbridge teams that won county titles year after year and it’s great that there’s a bit of buzz back in the club like.
“For many years we have been down in junior so to get back up to senior level now there’s a great buzz.”
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