secure an 8–4 to 5–3 victory. Three years later in 1959, Dillon was at full back on the St Lachtain's junior hurling team that contested the county championship final in that grade. Once again it was a Thomastown selection that provided the opposition, however, after facing defeat to their old rivals at under-age levels, Dillon won a county junior championship title following a 4–7 to 4–2 victory. Just two years after winning promotion from the junior grade St. Lachtain's reached the final of the county senior championship. The opponents were Near South; however, St Lachtain's ability to score goals while conceding none proved decisive in the 4–5 to 0–12 victory. It was Dillon's first senior county championship winners' medal. After surrendering the title the following year, St Lachtain's reached the championship decider again in 1963. Tullogher provided the opposition; however, they were no match for Dillon's side as a 1–7 to 0–3 score line gave him a second county title. Minor Dillon's success at the club level brought him to the attention of the Kilkenny minor hurling selectors and he joined the team in 1955. That year he won a Leinster in the minor grade as Wexford were accounted for after a draw and a replay. Kilkenny was later beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1956, Dillon added a second Leinster minor winners' medal to his collection as Wexford were defeated in the provincial decider once again. This victory allowed Kilkenny advance to the All-Ireland final where Tipperary were waiting. An absolute rout took place as Tipp won the game by 4–16 to 1–5. Senior Dillon's first senior outing in a Kilkenny jersey was against Waterford in a tournament game in 1960, however, it took him another few years to gain a permanent foothold in the county team. Jim 'Link Walsh was the regular full-back at the time while 'Cha' Whelan of Thomastown held the position for the 1963 championship. By 1964 Dillon had taken over the position and became the first-choice number three for the majority of the next decade. That year Dillon won his first Leinster winners' medal in the senior grade following a huge win over Dublin. Staunch local rivals Tipperary later provided the opposition in the All-Ireland final, however, Kilkenny were the pundits' favourites to retain the title. Jimmy Doyle had other ideas, however, as he scored 10 points and set up Seán McLoughlin