Laois champs up next for Henry’s side
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB Leinster Club SHC Quarter Final
Shamrocks Ballyhale 0-25 Kilcormac Killoughey 1-18
Shamrocks produced a terrific second half performance to quell the challenge of Offaly champions, Kilcormac Killoughey and advance to the last four of this seasons AIB Leinster Club SHC, where they will face off against familiar foes, Clough Ballacolla next weekend at UPMC Nowlan Park. Huge performances from Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody ensured the Kilkenny champions extend their season for a while longer. At full time the margin was four points in favour of Henry’s men, but tempers flared and some unsavory scenes occurred which saw an opposition supporter aim punches at intercounty star Adrian Mullen who was the victim of a nasty swipe by Charlie Mitchell as the long whistle sounded which appears to have resulted in a broken thumb for the flame haired star. Thankfully, the person involved was restrained by K-K’s full back Jordan Quinn, until a little order was restored. The shocking incident shouldn’t detract from a competitive game that ebbed and flowed and saw the visitors a goal to the good at the interval.
Niall Shortall opened the scoring inside the first minute, capitalising on a poor restart by visiting keeper, Conor Slevin, to split the posts. The Faithful County side were level in the 4th minute, underage star Adam Screeney registering his first of the day from play. Declan Laffin’s side had fire and fight in their bellies, and Cillian Kiely’s challenge on Adrian Mullen showed that, Laois whistler Padraig Dunne giving just a free when a card seemed likely. TJ stepped up and opened his account from the placed ball to nudge his side ahead. Charlie Mitchell then scored the first of 3 quality points in the opening period all from the O’Loughlin’s side of the ground as he was getting the better of his duel with the returning Evan Shefflin. An unusually poor restart from Dean Mason was duly punished, Daniel Hand the beneficiary as the travelling side took the lead with seven minutes on the clock.
The Shamrocks then hit two quickfire scores, the first a solo effort from the electric Eoin Cody who outpaced a posse of players before batting over, and then a tidy point from TJ, from a tight angle as the Noresiders retook the lead. Damien Kilmartin then set up Charlie Mitchell for a carbon copy of his first point, and from the restart, his partner in crime Adam Screeney rifled over from distance as the lead swapped hands once more. Laois whistler Dunne, then gave a free, a little soft for many, but the opportunity was taken by K-K netminder and captain, Conor Slevin, who converted the first of his four points in the Leinster quarter final encounter from his own’45. TJ popped over another free, Adrian Mullen fouled again, this time by Thomas Spain. The visitors then fashioned a goal chance; James Gorman denied by a great Joey Holden block.
As with most matches this season, Eoin Cody was roaming out the pitch and this allowed Adrian Mullen to find the former with a nice pass, the result a lovely point and the sides level again. Colin Spain then gave a pass to Jack Screeney who fired over from out on the left. K-K midfielder Spain’s next pass was intercepted brilliantly by Eoin Kenneally who raced down the wing before striking over a sweet score. Charlie Mitchell then notched his 3rd point, again outpacing Evan Shefflin before striking off his right side to nudge the Offaly champions into the lead. Mitchell then had a goal on his mind, but great pressure from Joey Holden and great goalkeeping from Dean Mason averted the danger. The green flag was raised shortly after this let off for Shamrocks. A long ball into the Kilkenny teams defence saw Brian Butler tussle with Conor Mahon, the latter holding and grappling but as both players battled for the ball, the Shamrocks No.4 grabbed the K-K forwards hurl under the gaze of the referee, who signaled penalty. Adam Screeney struck it beyond the diving Dean Mason to extend the visitors lead to 4 points with five minutes of a pulsating opening period remaining.
Eoin Cody then showed his pace to get away from Damien Kilmartin before rifling over for his 3rd of the afternoon. TJ tagged on another placed ball following a foul on Ronan Corcoran, but K-K netminder Slevin struck over another long range free of his own to leave three between the sides. Paddy Mullen was then played in by Eoin Cody, and the enforcer popped over the point as the half entered stoppage time. Conor Mahon then had a wild swipe which connected squarely on Killian Corcoran’s helmet, this time the yellow card was shown. The final point of the first half was then taken by Kilcormac Killoughey’s James Gorman as his side headed to the changing room with a 3-point lead.
Having shown only brief glimpses of their ability in the first half, Shamrocks started the second half with more desire and tempo. Eoin Cody and Paddy Mullen registered scores for the hosts, before a brace of free’s from TJ edged the Marble City men ahead. Richie Reid then picked out Ronon Corcoran and the powerful midfield man split the posts from out the field. This Shamrocks scoring spell was interrupted by an Adam Screeney free, Killian Corcoran harshly blown up by the ref. With Brian Butler on a yellow as a result of the penalty incident, Henry decided to make a change, Dara Mason replacing the experienced defender. Eoin Cody then turned provider, taking a great catch before off-loading to the supporting Adrian Mullen who split the K-K posts.
Richie Reid then picked out Eoin Cody from a free and the former two-time young hurler of the year turned and rifled over to extend the Shamrocks lead to three points midway through the second period. More dovetailing from Adrian and Eoin saw the former strike over from midfield. Kilcormac Killoughey got only their second point after the interval, courtesy of Conor Mahon. Henry’s charges responded, again Adrian Mullen the scorer, this time a tasty effort from under Ardan de Gras which delighted the Ballyhale support. Paddy Mullen then burst forward and was halted illegally; TJ punished the indiscretion to leave his side five ahead. Declan Laffin’s side needed a spark, and they struck the next two scores, both placed balls, one from Adam Screeney and a longer effort from captain, Conor Slevin to leave a goal between the sides.
Niall Shortall was then impeded, and TJ popped over the resulting free. Before play restarted, John Fitzpatrick replaced Brian Cody in attack for Henry’s team. K-K sub Ter Guinan was then penalised for touching the sliotar on the ground; TJ added another to his tally. Conor Slevin notched his 4th point of the last eight clash, again soft, after ref Padraig Dunne had blown up for a Ronan Corcoran foul. The Laois whistler then adjudged there to have been an illegal hand-pass by sub Alex Kavanagh, TJ splitting the posts from halfway to keep the Faithful County side at bay. Adam Screeney converted another handy free which TJ cancelled out moments later. Laffan’s men needed another major, but would only add two further points to their total with efforts from subs Leigh Kavanagh and Thomas Geraghty with TJ registering his 12th point of the game to leave the final socre in UPMC Nowlan Park, Shamrocks Ballyhale 0-25 Kilcormac Killoughey 1-18.
Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 0-12 (11f), E Cody 0-5, A Mullen 0-3, P Mullen 0-2, N Shortall, E Kenneally, R Corcoran 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kilcormac-Killoughey: A Screeney 1-5 (1-0 pen, 3f), C Slevin (4f), C Mitchell 0-3, D Hand, J Screeney, J Gorman, C Mahon, L Kavanagh, C Walsh 0-1 each.
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: Dean Mason; K Corcoran, J Holden, B Butler; R Corcoran, R Reid, E Shefflin; E Kenneally, A Mullen; B Cody, E Cody, L Barron; P Mullen, TJ Reid (captain), N Shortall.
Subs: D Mason for B Butler (43), J Fitzpatrick for B Cody (54), F Shefflin for P Mullen (59), C Walsh for L Barron (60+2), L Donnelly for R Corcoran (60+3).
KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: C Slevin (captain); J Mahon, J Quinn, T Spain; E Grogan, C Kiely, B Kavanagh; C Spain, D Kilmartin; A Screeney, J Screeney, D Hand; C Mitchell, J Gorman, C Mahon.
Subs: A Kavanagh for J Gorman (39), T Guinan for D Kilmartin (50), L Kavanagh for D Hand (55), T Geraghty for C Mahon (59), P Geraghty for C Spain (60+1).
Referee: P Dunne (Laois).
>>SHERRY SAYS…
Shamrocks picked it up in the second half and showed their quality to win out by four points against Offaly’s finest. Next up for Henry’s side will be Laois’s Clough Ballacolla in the semifinal. Let’s hope that the GAA authorities do the right thing and persuade the ‘supporter’ who thought he was Mike Tyson to stay at home and watch games from the comfort of this couch.
At Intermediate level, Danesfort secured a last four spot with a 7-point victory over Wexford side St Mogues Fethard. Adrian Burke’s side will now play Dublin outfit Commercials, knowing a win would see them claim a final berth where they would play the winners of the Lusmagh and Ratoath clash.
Barrow Rangers keep the flag flying at the Junior grade following a mightily impressive 12-point winners over Offaly side Drumcullen in Gowran. The Paulstown-Goresbridge side will now play Wexford’s Davidstown Courtnacuddy next weekend.
A massive congratulations to Pat McDowell’s Muckalee team, who became the first Kilkenny side in 21 years to be crowned Leinster LGFA junior club championship winners following a hard-fought victory over Meath’s St Colmcille’s in Kinnegad last weekend.
