Shamrocks steamroll Sash by 22, to claim No.22
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship Final 2026
Shamrocks Ballyhale 2-24 Tullaroan 0-8
This was a game that promised much and had great build-up, but defending champions Shamrocks Ballyhale produced an awesome performance to steamroll Tullaroan and retain their Tom Walsh crown by their biggest winning margin to date. From 1 to15, and beyond, the Holden Plant Rental’s sponsored side dominated matters from start to finish and will now look forward to a tough provincial campaign. For Tullaroan, the wait for a 21st county title continues, as they failed to produce anywhere near the level that they are capable of and needed to deliver when facing the awesome men from the south of Kilkenny.
The Sash opted to play against the elements and only registered two points in the opening period, the first coming after 14 minutes, from a placed ball, by which time Mark Aylward’s side had 1-6 on the scoreboard thanks to a goal inside 30 seconds from Adrian Mullen. Eoin Cody, like Adrian was playing out the field, went on a great run and rifled his shot towards goal, but the seriously impressive Niall Holland got his hurl to the goal bound effort, but was powerless to prevent Adrian Mullen sweeping the sliotar home. Former two-time Young Hurler of the Year Cody, then fired over from distance, while the eldest of the Mullen brothers did likewise after good work from Killian Ryan and Brian Cody. Eoin Cody then notched his second point, taking a short sideline, swapping passes and striking over from tight to the sideline. Some good pressure from the Shamrocks saw them work the ball out of defence to Evan Shefflin, who from centre field, split the Tullaroan posts, having had the freedom of UPMC Nowlan Park. TJ opened his account in the 11th minute, after Niall Shortall had been fouled and the early dominance was cemented when Brian Cody scored, having been nicely played in by TJ and Ronan Corcoran.
Having already registered a few wide’s, Dave Mulcahy’s outfit got off the mark courtesy of Shane Walsh, who overall had a day to forget on the biggest stage. Niall Shortall and TJ added to their sides tally, before Evan Shefflin added to his earlier point, thanks to a great catch and pass from the evergreen and classy Joey Holden, who was immense throughout the decider. Another of the Ballyhale veterans, TJ added a quickfire brace of scores to extend the Shamrocks lead to thirteen points. Tullaroan’s search for a second score ended int he 24th minute, thanks to a nice effort from John Walsh, but The Sash’s touch was alluding them as those in white hunted them down and forced errors, which inevitably led to scores, and this was illustrated soon after when TJ who worked tirelessly throughout, forced a turnover and the ball was switched to Evan Shefflin who collected point number three for himself. Aylward’s charges tightened the screw a little more, and tagged on further points from Ronan Corcoran, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody ahead of the short whistle which saw them head to the changing rooms with a phenomenal 16-point lead.
No doubt, there would have been two very different team talks during the interval, but Dave Mulcahy would have wanted his Sash team to play with pride in the second half and at least win the scoring battle over the next 30 – odd minutes. When play resumed, it would be Eoin Cody that got the scoreboard moving, cutting in from the left before tapping over, all too easy. Tullaroan were dealt a further blow when injury forced the classy Padraig Walsh to leave the field, the former All-Star in tears as he trudged off to be replaced by Ciallin Brennan. Richie Reid, who had swept up brilliantly then got on the scoresheet, again, finding himself in space before letting fly. Things were about to get worse for The Sash. Joey Holden dived full length to deflect the sliotar way from Mossy Keoghan. Liam Barron found TJ, who picked up possession out on the left and arrowed a pass into Eoin Cody, who looked to be bottled up, but somehow managed to offload to TJ who moved the ball to Jake Mullen who rifled the sliotar beyond Niall Holland to push the Shamrocks lead out to 21 points at the midway point of the second period.
Tullaroan appeared devoid of ideas on how to halt what appeared to be a smooth-running Shamrocks train, and the train kept on track, Adrian Mullen showing his class once more, finding space and firing over off his left side. Dylan Simpson then took over placed ball duties and converted a ’65 for his sides first score after the interval. Mark Aylward’s team then raised the tempo once more; Jake Mullen denied a second major by the agile Niall Holland. The Sash netminder was soon called into action again, somehow denying Eoin Cody and then Adrian Mullen in quick succession to prevent the hammering getting even worse. TJ then settled that passage of play with a ’65, while Mossy Keoghan, who had been on the periphery of the game, showed good skill to fire over. Another player with skill in abundance is Eoin Cody, and he showed a lovely slight of foot before setting up Darragh Corcoran who split the posts. Dylan Simpson then fired over a brace from distance, while Shane Walsh despite a tight angle, scored, but points were not making any inroads into the Shamrocks lead. Niall Holland then somehow managed to prevent another certain goal, denying Eoin Cody again. The holders then went back into point scoring mode, Darragh Corcoran, the hard-working Liam Barron and sub Dylan Aylward all raising white flags for the soon to be crowned 22 times champions. Tullaroan keeper Niall Holland then showed his scoring power from the placed ball, striking over a booming effort as the game entered additional time. There was still time for one more score; Barron to Barron and Mikey applied the finish. Final score, Shamrocks Ballyhale 2-24, Tullaroan 0-8.
Teams and Scorers
Shamrocks Ballyhale: Adrian Mullen (1-4); TJ Reid (0-4, 3fs, 1 ‘65); Eoin Cody (0-4); Jake Mullen (1-0); Evan Shefflin (0-3); Darragh Corcoran (0-2); Niall Shortall, Brian Cody, Ronan Corcoran, Richie Reid, Liam Barron, Dylan Aylward, Michael Barron (0-1 each)
Tullaroan: Dylan Simpson (0-3, 1f, 1 ‘65); Shane Walsh (0-2, 1f); Niall Holland (0-1, 1f); Martin Keoghan, John Walton (0-1 each)
Shamrocks Ballyhale: Dean Mason, Killian Ryan, Joey Holden, Liam Barron, Evan Shefflin, Darragh Corcoran, Killian Corcoran, Ronan Corcoran, Richie Reid, Brian Cody, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen, Jake Mullen, Niall Shortall.
Subs: Brian Butler for Ryan, 43 mins, Cathal Coogan for J.Mullen,49 mins, Dylan Aylward for R.Corcoran, 54 mins, Cian Cullen for R.Reid, 55 mins, Michael Barron for B.Cody, 55 mins.
Tullaroan; Niall Holland; Joe Coughlan, Tomas Dunne, Charlie Cleere, Tommy Walsh, Padraig Walsh, Bill Walton, Martin Walsh, Bill Gaffney, Martin Keoghan, Peter Walshe, Dylan Simpson, Shane Walsh, Gearoid Dunne, John Walton.
Subs: Ciallin Brennan for P. Walsh, 36 mins, Mark Simpson for J.Walton, 40 mins, Eamon Holland for Cleere, 53 mins; Jim Moore for Walshe, 53 mins, Tommy Walton for Coughlan, 56 mins.
Referee: Owen Beehan (Fenians)
SHERRY SAYS…
Come in number 22! The latest Tom Walsh Cup decider was probably one of the easiest that the great Shamrocks Ballyhale had. Truth be told, the game was probably over at the short whistle, 16 points ahead, Mark Aylward’s charges kept the momentum going in the second half, registering 1-9 to Tullaroan’s 0-6.
Adrian Mullen started the rout, and several others contributed handsomely as they retained their crown. The men from South Kilkenny were simply too good in all areas for a Sash side that failed to deliver on the biggest of occasions. Nothing went right for Dave Mulcahy’s team, wayward shooting, uncharacteristic errors trying to complete the most basic of tasks. However, in Niall Holland they had a real ‘live’ contender for POTM; their netminder had an outstanding day, preventing the Shamrocks goals column from reading 5 or 6.
Joey Holden rolled back the years and was outstanding throughout, while Richie Reid was exceptional, sweeping and reading the play brilliantly all afternoon. Killian’s Ryan and Corcoran defended with assurance, while Evan Shefflin and Darragh Corcoran were magnificent, defending and attacking with real vigor. Aylward’s troops flooded the middle third, Ronan Corcoran, Adrian Mullen, Cody’s Brian and Eoin all swarming round the engine room to great effect. TJ’s support play was top notch, laying on scores for many teammates, while contributing plenty to the scoreboard himself.
Deserved celebrations had at the start of this week, but the focus will quickly turn to a Leinster campaign beginning next weekend. First up for the pride of Noreside will be a visit to Laois Hire O’Moore Park to take on first time champions The Harps. If Shamrocks can negotiate that tricky away day, a mouth-watering clash against the winners of Kilmacud Crokes and Mount Leinster Rangers is the prize; the latter heavily fancied to lift the provincial title this year.
