Loughs and Shamrocks tipped to claim final berths
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship Semi Finals
After a summer of nail-biting action, four teams remain in the hunt for senior glory as the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship reaches the semifinal stage. Current holders of the Tom Walsh Cup, Thomastown are gone, with O’Loughlin Gaels the most recent winners still involved in this season’s campaign. Brian Hogan’s outfit will face off against Mullinavat in the first of the last four clashes at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday and the winners of this game will secure a final berth against either Dicksboro or Shamrocks Ballyhale. The ‘bookies’ appear to be banking on a Hogan vs Shefflin final, but the players of both the ‘Vat and the ‘Boro will have plenty to say about that at headquarters.
O’Loughlin Gaels vs Mullinavat
Five times winners of the Tom Walsh Cup, O’Loughlin’s enter the first semifinal as heavy favourites, but as the last eight clash with Clara showed, you can never take anything for granted on Noreside. The St John’s Park side were in total control at the short whistle, leading by ten and appeared set to coast to the penultimate stage of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship, but Clara dug deep to claw their way back into the game and drew level late on. This Loughs side have plenty of quality, but in games like this, you need character and resilience and Brian Hogan’s charges needed to show plenty of both attributes to get over the line, and they did just that,
The quarter final scare should mean that O’Loughlin’s are unlikely to switch off against the dangerous Vegas Boys this weekend. Netminder Stephen Murphy will know that his full back line will need to be on their toes to help smother the threat that will undoubtably come from Colm O’Byrne’s troops. Mullinavat captain Brian Phelan will be buzzing around the danger zone, waiting to pounce for any opportunity that comes, and the Loughs defence will know that Phelan loves a goal. The likes of Malone’s Ger and Michael, Adam Mansfield and the impressive John Walsh will not fear the opposition rearguard, and Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler and Tony Forristal could be in for a busy afternoon.
Despite the loss of talented young wing back David Fogarty, O’Loughlin Gaels are still likely to have a tight half back line on show, anchored by Paddy Deegan, with Jordan Molloy and Ronan Buckley flanking the former Kilkenny skipper. I could see Deegan picking up John Walsh, to try and minimise the ‘Vat man’s impact on the game, but with the likes of Ian Duggan and Joe Gahan around, there will be plenty of driving forces for the Vegas Boys. Brian Hogan’s side have a good bit of physical power scattered all over the pitch, and you feel that this will be needed on Sunday. The engine room battle as usual will prove vital as these two sides seek to give a good platform to their attacking units. I expect the likes of Conor Heary and Fionan Mackessy will find themselves flooding the middle third at times, using their power to drive forward at every opportunity. The speed of Owen Wall and power of Luke Hogan are useful weapons, while Conor Kelly was lively against Clara. For Mullinavat, the steadying presence of Tom Aylward on the edge of the square and Padraig Dempsey at centre back, manager O’Byrne will hope these two players are in top form to deal with the O’Loughlin’s attacking menace. For the Vegas Boys, this is their sixth appearance in the last four, and the second on the trot, and while many will not expect them to progress, they are a dangerous proposition and will give it a right good go.
Shamrocks Ballyhale vs Dicksboro
There is always a little bit of spice when these two sides clash. This will be their second meeting of the season, having met in the fifth round of the league in early September. Shamrocks ran out 7-point winners that day in Gowran with Eoin Cody and Ronan Corcoran really impressing for Henry’s team. it was this game that saw the first appearance for the talented Adrian Mullen following a troublesome groin injury that plagued the flame-haired stickman during the intercounty season. Until limping off with a slight hamstring injury, Matthew Kelleher was the standout performer for Eamon Jackman’s charges, top scoring for his side in the defeat.
The Palmerstown side have had a little bit of a stop-start season to date, and their win over Glenmore last time out has certainly brought a renewed sense of hope to the maroon-clad team. Timmy Clifford put in a great shift at wing-forward, notching 0-5 from play, while Liam Moore and the vastly experienced Shane Stapleton scored 1-4 a piece, the latter causing plenty of problems for the Pairc na Ratha defence. Throw in Cillian Hackett’s 3-point haul and substitute Patrick Lacey’s eye-catching 0-4 and you can do more than build a case for Dicksboro’s chances. With Cillian Buckley anchoring things at ‘6’ and the powerful Padraic Moylan behind him, these two pillars will need to stand strong against a potent Shamrocks attack.
TJ Reid looks to be reveling under the guidance of Henry Shefflin along with the talented Eoin Cody. The former will cause plenty of problems in and around the house, while the latter will roam around UPMC Nowlan Park, getting lots of possession and jinking in and out of challenges as he utilises his skills and pace. The form of Brian Cody and Ronan Corcoran since returning from their travels have been crucial in the return to ‘normal service’ for Shamrocks. Both these players will trouble the scoreboard and can do so from distance also. Niall Shortall also appears to be coming of age and has really caused havoc for corner backs this season. Having TJ Reid and Eoin Cody with him gives the former St Kieran’s College player lots of confidence to ply his trade.
Shamrocks, like Sunday’s opponents ‘Boro had a mixed bag in the league stages but served notice of their intent with a superb dismantling of county champions Thomastown. As mentioned last week, the dethroning of Noel Doherty’s charges was Henry’s sides most complete performance of the season. The half back line of the 20-times champions is one of their great strengths. Darragh Corcoran and Evan Shefflin flank the super-experienced Richie Reid and all three of these hurlers are more than capable of scoring as well as preventing their men doing likewise. The last man to lead the Cats to All-Ireland glory, Joey Holden has rolled back the years and still oozes class on the edge of the square.
The 2020 County Final saw these two sides clash, and on that occasion, it was Shamrocks that ran up an impressive total of 5-19 in a comprehensive victory that saw them crowned champions once again. Henry Shefflin will no doubt remind his charges that anything less than a repeat of their performance to oust Thomastown, could make Sunday’s fixture a tricky one for the south Kilkenny side.
• Congratulations to Graigue Ballycallan who put in a great performance to retain their senior status and in doing so, send Lisdowney back to the intermediate grade.
The Tom Ryall Park side raised three green flags in a 14-point win with Billy Ryan scoring a lovely third goal when it appeared he had been bottled up.
