Eoin Larkin has put himself right back in contention for a place in Kilkenny’s championship team after scoring seven points for his club James Stephens in his first game since returning from UN peacekeeping duty in Syria.

The eight-time All-Ireland winner – who didn’t feature in Kilkenny’s league campaign due to injury – scored five of those seven points from play, and is now poised to return in time for their Leinster championship semi-final against Dublin or Wexford on June 11th.

Larkin’s county team-mates TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly also scored 1-9 and 1-1 respectively as Ballyhale Shamrocks beat Mullinavat. Fennelly was also absent for Kilkenny’s league semi-final defeat to Clare last month due to injury. Larkin’s return, however, is significant, as former team-mate Henry Shefflin pointed out.

“He’s massive,” said Shefflin. “Brian Cody has great faith in him. There’s a lot of talk about systems but Eoin brings savage work rate to it.

“Even more so this year with Richie Power not there and Ger Aylward gone with the cruciate. Having a specialised corner-forward for Kilkenny is very important. He’s a massive player and a massive leader.”