The family name is synonymous with Kilkenny hurling. His father Phil `Fan' Larkin wore the black and amber with distinction, while his grandfather Paddy also picked up a few All-Ireland medals. The latest Phil, now aged 24, always looked like living up to his illustrious pedigree, combining speed and tenacity from an early age and sparkling with his club James Stephens of Kilkenny city.

He captained the Kilkenny minor team of 1990. But his season was left in tatters when a dismissal in the Leinster semi-final cost him a place in that year's All-Ireland. He returned as a minor the following year, again at lefthalf back as Kilkenny retained their title.

He graduated to under-21 level in 1994 but his senior Championship debut was a torrid affair. Larkin matched up against Martin Storey at wing-back in the summer of 1996 and his rawness was exposed by the Wexford man.

Although it set him back, he recovered and gradually eased his way towards midfield, a switch engineered during Nicky Brennan's stewardship of Kilkenny.

Larkin briefly and unhappily found himself at full-back at the outset of this season's League campaign but the experiment proved as forgettable as Kilkenny's overall hurling. A particularly painful afternoon marking Tipperary's Eugene O'Neill in March effectively ended the idea.

By the start of the Championship, he was re-instated at midfield and looked extremely assured as Kilkenny razed Dublin 4-23 to 0-14. Larkin pitched in with a point from play.

Comfortable in the Leinster Final, he notably kept pace with Waterford's Tony Browne as Kilkenny inched themselves to another All-Ireland final. A determined athlete, Larkin compensates with speed and smarts for what he lacks in physical stature and can strike beautifully while in full stride.

Larkin is extremely defensively aware and may well be asked to pick up whoever Offaly employ as a runner.