KILKENNY’S HURLERS WOKE up All-Ireland champions this morning and can look forward to a winter of Noreside celebrations mixed with club activities.

For Eoin Larkin the future is slightly different to his teammates.

The 31 year-old’s day job is with the Irish Defence Forces and he is now getting set to head to Syria on a peacekeeping mission.

Given the currently volatile situation in the country, Larkin is understandably nervous about the prospect.

“I’m going out peacekeeping there in Syria with the Army. It certainly will be different to most years,” he told Marty Morrissey on RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland earlier today.

“It’s something I have to do and is part of my job. We will go out and do it this year and see how it goes.

“I’m very apprehensive and nervous. All my family are nervous seeing things on the news but hopefully things will go okay and I’ll come back in one piece.”

The James Stephens club man claimed his 9th All-Ireland senior hurling medal yesterday.

Eoin Larkin celebrates victory with Richie Hogan. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

He apportioned credit for his extraordinary achievement to teammate Jackie Tyrrell whose rousing half-time speech helped ignite the second-half display that propelled Kilkenny to victory.

“He gave a great inspirational speech at half-time. I think Brian summed it up last night, that’s what the whole Kilkenny panel is about.

“Jackie got injured and Shane Prendergast came in but he never lost focus what we were about and that was to win the All-Ireland.

“That ultimately shone through at half-time yesterday and carried on to the pitch in the second-half.”

‘Podge is saying it’s time for pay for play, we can’t keep doing this and not get paid’

Minding a bad back, Kilkenny’s appetite and chasing that midfield jersey