Four-in-a-row
In 2006 Larkin added a second league medal to his collection following a 3–11 to 0–14 victory over Limerick. [22] He later won his second Leinster medal following another facile 1–23 to 1–12 victory over Wexford. On 3 September 2006 Kilkenny faced a Cork team who were presented with the opportunity to become the first side in nearly thirty years to secure three successive All-Ireland championships. Like previous encounters neither side took a considerable lead,however,Kilkenny had a vital goal from Aidan Fogarty. Cork were in arrears coming into the final few minutes,however,Ben O'Connor scored a late goal for Cork. It was too little too late as the Cats denied Cork on a score line of 1–16 to 1–13. [23] It was a first All-Ireland medal for Larkin..
Larkin collected a third Leinster medal in 2007,as Kilkenny asserted their provincial dominance and defeated Wexford by 2–24 to 1–12. [24] On 2 September 2007 Kilkenny faced defeated Munster finalists and surprise All-Ireland semi-final winners Limerick in the championship decider. Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin scoring two goals within the first ten minutes to set the tone. Limerick launched a second-half comeback,however,"the Cats" were too powerful and cruised to a 2–19 to 1–15 victory. [25] It was Larkin's second All-Ireland medal.
Kilkenny secured the Leinster crown again in 2008,with Larkin collecting a fourth winners' medal following a 5–21 to 0–17 drubbing of Wexford. [26] On 8 September 2008 Kilkenny faced Waterford in the All-Ireland decider for the first time in forty-five years. In a disappointingly one-sided final,Kilkenny produced a near perfect seventy minutes as Waterford endured a nightmare afternoon. A 23-point winning margin,3–24 from play,only two wides in the entire match and eight scorers in all with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin leading the way in a 3–30 to 1–13 victory. [27] It was Larkin's third All-Ireland medal,while he later collected a first All-Star. [28] He also made a clean sweep of all the Hurler of the Year awards.
Larkin collected a third National League medal in 2009,as Kilkenny beat Tipperary by 2–26 to 4–17 with a thrilling extra-time victory. [29] He later won a fifth successive Leinster medal as new challengers Dublin were bested by 2–18 to 0–18. [30] On 6 September Kilkenny were poised to become the second team ever in the history of hurling to win four successive All-Ireland championships when they faced Tipperary in the decider. For long periods Tipp looked the likely winners,however,late goals from Henry Shefflin and substitute Martin Comerford finally killed off their efforts to secure a 2–22 to 0–23 victory. [31] Larkin had collected his fourth All-Ireland medal,while a second successive All-Star soon followed. [32]
Continued dominance
In 2010 Kilkenny defeated Galway in an eagerly-anticipated but ultimately disappointing provincial decider. A 1–19 to 1–12 victory gave Larkin a sixth Leinster medal. [33] The drive for a fifth successive All-Ireland crown reached a head on 5 September 2010,when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. "The Cats" lost talisman Henry Shefflin due to injury,while Tipperary's Lar Corbett ran riot and scored a hat-trick of goals as Larkin's side fell to a 4–17 to 1–18 defeat. [34]
Kilkenny's stranglehold in Leinster continued in 2011. A 4–17 to 1–15 defeat of Dublin gave "the Cats" and Larkin a record-equalling seventh successive provincial championship. [35] Kilkenny subsequently faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider on 4 September 2011. Goals by Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan in either half gave Kilkenny,who many viewed as the underdogs going into the game,a 2–17 to 1–16 victory. [36] Larkin collected a fifth All-Ireland medal.
2012 began well for Larkin,who by now was captain of the team,when he collected a fourth National League medal following a 3–21 to 0–16 demolition of old rivals Cork. [37] [38] Kilkenny were later shocked by Galway in the Leinster decider,losing by 2–21 to 2–11,however,both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider on 9 September 2012. [39] Kilkenny had led going into the final stretch,however,Joe Canning struck a stoppage time equaliser to level the game at 2–13 to 0–19 and send the final to a replay for the first time since 1959. [40] The replay took place three weeks later on 30 September 2012. Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals,however,Kilkenny's championship debutant Walter Walsh gave a man of the match performance,claiming a 1–3 haul. The 3–22 to 3–11 Kilkenny victory gave Larkin a sixth All-Ireland medal,while he also had the honour of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup. [41]
Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013,with Larkin winning a fifth National League medal following a 2–17 to 0–20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider. [42]
In 2014 Larkin collected his sixth league medal,as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary. [43] He subsequently secured an eighth Leinster medal,as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0–14 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin. [44] On 7 September 2014 Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time,the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game,however,his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw. [45] The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2–17 to 2–14 victory. [46] It was Larkin's seventh All-Ireland medal.
Larkin won a ninth Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1–25 to 2–15 defeat of Galway in the decider. It was Kilkenny's 70th provincial title. [47] Kilkenny renewed their rivalry with Galway once again in the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 2015. The team struggled in the first half,however,a T. J. Reid goal and a dominant second half display,which limited Galway to just 1–4,saw Kilkenny power to a 1–22 to 1–18 victory. [48] It was Larkin's eighth All-Ireland medal in ten years.
On 2 December 2016,Larkin announced his retirement from inter-county hurling. [49] [50]
