Top two title holders will face-off in 2026 final
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship 2026
And then there were two. We now know the teams that will battle to be crowned Tom Walsh Cup champions in just over a week’s time. Following two titanic battles last Sunday, Tullaroan and Shamrocks Ballyhale emerged from their semifinal encounters and preparations are now in full swing ahead of the decider on October 25th. For The Sash, it will be their first County final since 1994, when they defeated Dicksboro in a low scoring contest to claim a 20th senior title. Reigning champions, Shamrocks Ballyhale will aim to retain their title, but that will be no easy feat. Both last four games were in the melting point right up to the long whistle, but there would be no final hurrah for the players of Bennettsbridge and Thomastown who exited this year’s campaign.
Bennettsbridge 2-14 Tullaroan 1-20
Tullaroan booked their place in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship final with a hard-earned three-point victory over Bennettsbridge in the first of the semi-finals played at UPMC Nowlan Park. The final score of 1-20 to 2-14 is only one page of the story, as this was a fiercely contested clash that remained in the balance until the closing stages.
Played before a decent crowd at Kilkenny’s headquarters, both teams arrived with genuine ambitions of reaching the county decider. Bennettsbridge had gathered momentum following their quarter-final success, while Tullaroan entered the contest determined to secure a first final appearance in more than 30 years.
The opening exchanges were played at a frantic pace, with no quarter given as both defences applied intense pressure. Tullaroan gradually settled into their rhythm and looked the more composed side in possession, using the ball intelligently and working opportunities through patient build-up play. Mossy Keoghan got the first score of the game, while veteran Nicky Cleere struck a brace for the ‘Bridge early doors. The Sash forwards found their range from placed balls and open play, helping them build a double-score lead by the end of the first quarter.
However, Bennettsbridge responded in the manner expected of a team with a great tradition and resilience. They brought greater urgency to their attacking play and were rewarded when a well-worked move resulted in the game’s first goal. Liam Blanchfield was alert and collected Alex O’Farrell’s under-hit free before rifling past Niall Holland in the Tullaroan goal.
That green flag lifted the ’Bridge supporters and they registered the next score also, but Dave Mulcahy’s charges didn’t panic and reeled off the games next 3 scores, the third of which was major in more ways than one, as Gearoid Dunne fired to the net. The contest remained finely balanced as half-time approached, with Brian Lannon’s outfit notching two scores ahead of the short whistle to trail five as they headed to the changing rooms.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Sash outscoring their opponents in the opening stages. Tullaroan’s work-rate around the middle third proved crucial, allowing them to win important breaking ball and maintain a steady flow of possession to a dangerous forward line. When Martin Walsh split the ‘Bridge posts on 38 minutes to extend his sides lead to seven, all seemed smooth for the 20-times champions.
Yet Bennettsbridge were far from finished. Showing tremendous determination, they raided forward repeatedly, raining in long balls towards their target man, and this paid dividends when they found a second goal that reignited hopes of a comeback. With the margin reduced to a one-score game and tension rising around Nowlan Park, the outcome remained uncertain entering the final minutes.
The closing stages demanded composure and Mulcahy’s men delivered exactly that. Rather than sitting back, they continued to attack and picked off a series of valuable points that ultimately proved decisive. Their ability to retain possession under pressure frustrated Bennettsbridge, who struggled to create the clear-cut opportunities required to overturn the deficit. A trio of scores from the impressive Shane Walsh ensured that Tullaroan repelled the ‘Bridge challenge and took another step on their journey to catch the Shamrocks. When the final whistle sounded, Tullaroan had secured a deserved 1-20 to 2-14 victory and a place in the county final.
For Bennettsbridge, the defeat was no doubt disappointing. The two goals demonstrated their scoring power, when going direct to Liam Blanchfield, and they battled courageously throughout. This was a team that almost found themselves in a relegation final, but they certainly turned things round when the championship came calling.
In the end, Tullaroan’s blend of patience, work-rate and clinical finishing saw them emerge victorious from a gripping semi-final. Having negotiated a stern challenge from Bennettsbridge, they left UPMC Nowlan Park with momentum and belief, knowing that only one more opponent stand between them and Tom Walsh glory.
Tullaroan: Shane Walsh (0-9, 8fs); Dylan Simpson (0-5, 2fs); Gearoid Dunne (1-1); Martin Keoghan, Bill Gaffney (0-2 each); Peter Walsh (0-1)
Bennettsbridge: Nicky Cleere (0-8, 6fs); Liam Blanchfield (2-0); Eoin Walpole, Jimmy Lennon (0-2 each); Sean Morrissey, Timmy Kelly (0-1 each)
Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-18 Thomastown 1-16
Shamrocks Ballyhale go to the well. This is a key characteristic of this great club that stands to them when faced with stubborn, quality opposition. Mark Aylward’s team had to dig in during their meeting with Thomastown in a game that turned on its head in the final stages.
The clash of the current and previous county champions was a game that many on Noreside and beyond were looking forward to, but those expecting a top-class hurling were treated to more of a cagey, scrappy affair with lots of intensity and placed ball accuracy.
The youngest of the Mullen production line got the scoreboard moving, striking over a booming score into the wind. Some good battling by John Donnelly allowed Robbie to fire over the equalising score. It was pretty much nip and tuck, with both sides cancelling each other out, score for score. TJ levelled matters on 18 minutes; the sides deadlocked five points apiece, but then Noel Dherty’s troops hit three scores on the bounce to move into a 3-point lead with about ten minutes of the first half remaining thanks to efforts from Donnelly’s Robbie and John and Cian Doherty. TJ kept the Shamrocks in touch as the short whistle approached, but the final two points of a chess-like opening period came from Donnelly’s Stephen and Robbie, to leave Thomastown two points to the good at the interval.
Shamrocks sent on Adrian Mullen in place of Larry Cody, a change that illustrated their management teams’ desire and intentions for the second half. The men from Páirc na Seamróga started the half quickly, points from intercounty stars, TJ Reid and Eoin Cody squaring things up as the crowd shifted in their seats, the battle was on. Robbie Donnelly sent over a pair of frees, either side of one from TJ to give Noel Doherty’s team a one-point. The pacy Cian Doherty struck over a lovely score with ‘50 on the clock, but again, the Tom Walsh holders responded with a four-point burst, courtesy of TJ, Liam Barron and two from former Kilkenny captains, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody to move two clear with about seven minutes of normal time remaining.
Thomastown were not for going away. Robbie Donnelly split the Shamrocks posts to leave the ‘Town arrears at the bare minimum. Then came a score that gave great belief to the supporters of the Grennan-based side. Stephen Donnelly sent a long ball into the danger zone which Daithi Barron did well to collect. Despite being bottled up, Daithi somehow found John Donnelly with a hand pass, and the former Cats skipper buried his shot beyond Dean Mason to push the 2024 champions into a 2-point lead. Time for Shamrocks to go to the well. Aylward’s men attacked with great intent, Liam Barron, heavily involved. The ball arrived with Niall Shortall, and he blasted it beyond the advancing Diarmuid Galway to give the 2025 champions a 1-point lead. Stephen Donnelly fired over a nice score to deadlock matters once again, but the Shamrocks dug in again and a placed ball from the legendary TJ Reid and a well-worked team score from green flag raiser, shortall secured the battling victory and sent Mark Aylward’s charges to the 2026 county final where they will face a dangerous animal in Tullaroan.
Shamrocks Ballyhale: TJ Reid (0-8, 7fs); Niall Shortall (1-1); Eoin Cody (0-3); Adrian Mullen (0-2); Jake Mullen, Darragh Corcoran, Cathal Coogan, Liam Barron (0-1 each)
Thomastown: Robbie Donnelly (0-7, 5fs and 1 ‘65); John Donnelly (1-2); Daithi Barron (0-3); Stephen Donnelly (0-2); Luke Connellan, Peter McDonald (0-1 each)
