Wexford’s St Martin’s next up for Henry’s men
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final
Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-18
Clough Ballacolla 1-15
As expected, Laois champions Clough Ballacolla pushed Shamrocks Ballyhale all the way in their Leinster semifinal encounter in UPMC Nowlan Park last Sunday. When Laois legend Willie Dunphy fired over his 4th point of the afternoon to reduce the home sides lead to the bare minimum with four minutes of normal time remaining, nothing was certain. Step forward, TJ Reid and Eoin Cody who registered the scores to ease their supporters’ nerves and claim their place in the provincial decider for the first time since 2022. Next week’s final in Croke Park; will see Kilkenny’s finest take on the challenge of Wexford champions, St Martin’s, who comprehensively saw off Naas by 10 points at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
With the sun shining on Noreside, Henry Shefflin’s side took to the pitch without the services on the injured Adrian Mullen, who also looks set to miss the provincial decider having undergone surgery on the broken thumb he suffered after what his manager described as a ‘dirty belt’ in the closing seconds of the Shamrocks clash with Offaly side Kilcormac Killoughey. Thankfully, Darragh Corcoran was fit to return to the starting line-up, and showed his clash throughout proceedings. TJ Reid registered the first two scores of the last four clash, both from placed balls while the Laois side opened their account, thanks to a free from Stephen Bergin after five minutes in UPMC Nowlan Park.
With number 8 on his back, Evan Shefflin fired over a lovely score which TJ added to just a minute later to leave Shamrocks 3 points to the good inside the first ten minutes of the semifinal. A superb strike from a sideline cut by the lively Cillian Dunne was greeted with applause from the travelling Laois support, and this volume increased in the 10th minute when wing back Lochlainn Conway waited patiently on the outskirts of a ruck; pounced to fire past Dean Mason and edge his side into a 1-point lead. The roaming Eoin Cody was then shown a yellow card by Westmeath whistler, Caymon Flynn and this was followed by another accurate placed ball effort from Stephen Bergin. The powerful Brian Cody then rifled over to reduce the arrears to one, but again, Laois GAA Club Senior Hurler of the Year; Bergin popped over another free for Willie Hyland’s charges.
The Kilkenny champions then raised a green flag of their own, courtesy of the inform Niall Shortall. A delivery in in and around the house broke to the former St Kieran’s College star, and despite losing his footing, Shortall regained his balance before batting the sliotar past Cathal Dunne.
The Noresider’s major score didn’t appear to rock Clough-Ballacolla, if anything it energised them and they tagged on the games next two scores, Stephen Bergin notching another free while centre-back colossus, Lee Cleere struck over a booming effort from just over ‘65 out to edge the visitors ahead once more. Sensing the battle that they were in, Shamrocks dug in and registered the games next four scores. TJ Reid again, demonstrating his importance to his beloved club, struck over a brace of placed balls, while midfield powerhouse, Ronan Corcoran notched a pair of points from play, as he tried to turn the tide in the favor of the south Kilkenny side as they went 3 points up. TJ fired over another free, either side of two fine scores from the Laois side’s Cillian Dunne and the evergreen Willie Dunphy. Things could have been ever better for the Holden Plan Rentals sponsored side, had it not been for a superb save from Cathal Dunne to deny Eoin Cody a certain goal. Eoin Kenneally and TJ Reid tagged on two further scores to leave Henry’s outfit four up at the short whistle.
When the sides emerged after the interval, Shamrocks made one change to their side, with Dara Mason replacing Brian Butler at corner back. Stephen Bergin got the scoreboard moving for the visitors, slotting over another placed ball effort, but TJ replied with one of his own moments later. Clough-Ballacolla midfielder, Aidan Corby capped his excellent display to date by firing over a huge score, while Bergin tagged on a further free to reduce the home sides lead to just two points. Halftime sub Dara Mason became the second Shamrock to have his name noted by Mr. Flynn, then came a further change for Henry’s side, Finnian Shefflin replacing John Fitzpatrick in the forwards. The visitors goal scorer Lochlainn Conway was then replaced by the legendary Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher, before Eoin Cody ended a 13-minute scoring drought to leave three points between the sides.
Both sides were battling for supremacy; Willie Dunphy fired over two points, with a TJ free separating the full forwards scores. Another cracking point from Aidan Corby was built on by Dunphy’s fourth of the afternoon on Noreside as there was just a puck of the ball between the teams. Having been absent from winter hurling for the last couple of seasons, Shamrocks didn’t panic and dug deep, drawing on all the experience within their side. The game was in the melting pot, the heat was on, but scores from Darragh Corcoran, Eoin Cody and a peach from out on the right from the wizard that is TJ Reid saw the Kilkenny Kingpins’ home by 3 at the long whistle. Fulltime score in UPMC Nowlan Park in the AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final, Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-18 Clough Ballacolla 1-15.
Scorers for Shamrocks Ballyhale: TJ Reid 0-10 (9fs and 1 ’65); N Shortall 1-0; E Cody, R Corcoran 0-2 each; D Corcoran, B Cody, E Shefflin, E Kenneally 0-1 each
Scorers for Clough Ballacolla: S Bergin 0-6 (6fs); W Dunphy 0-4; L Conway 1-0; A Corby, K Dunne 0-2 each; L Cleere 0-1 Shamrocks
BALLYHALE SHAMROCK: D Mason; K Corcoran, J Holden, B Butler; E Kenneally, R Reid, D Corcoran; E Shefflin, R Corcoran; J Fitzpatrick, E Cody, TJ Reid; L Barron, B Cody, N Shortall.
Subs: D Mason for Butler (h-t); F Shefflin for Fitzpatrick (42); C Phelan for Barron (63).
CLOUGH BALLACOLLA: C Dunne; J Pearson, D Maher, D Conway; L Conway, L Cleere, C Hogan; A Corby, K Mulhall; M Hennessy, J Walshe, R Phelan; C Dunne, W Dunphy. S Bergin.
Subs: S Maher for L.Conway (49); J Corby for Mulhall (54); P Brennan for Phelan (56).
Referee: C Flynn (Westmeath
>>SHERRY SAYS….
Nobody said it was going to be easy…. and Shamrocks Ballyhale found that out last Sunday. Willie Hyland’s team arrived on Noreside with a plan and plenty of effort and pushed Henry Shefflin’s charges all the way in UPMC Nowlan Park. Three late scores on the bounce saw this Ballyhale side get over the line, and that’s what this club has been built on and continues to do. They definitely missed the industry and class of Adrian Mullen and will do so again in the provincial decider next weekend when they come up against a Jack O’Connor inspired St Martin’s team. Shamrocks will know that need will need to lift it if they are to claim a 13th O’Neill Cup.
At Intermediate level, Danesfort kept their season going with a dominant performance over Dublin side Commercials in UPMC Nowlan Park winning out by 12 points. A beautifully taken goal by Fionn O’Mahony paved the way for Adrian Burke’s men to claim the victory and set up a decider against Meath’s Ratoath next Saturday.
Unfortunately, it was the end of the road for our junior champions, Barrow Rangers, who were beaten by Wexford’s Davidstown Courtnacuddy in a game staged at Canon Kearns Park in Castlecomer. Rangers can enjoy the festive period in the knowledge that they secured their first junior title in over 30 years and in doing so, brought plenty of pride to their club.
