Eight teams remain in race for Tom Walsh Cup
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League/Championship
A fantastic weekend of action saw four ‘fallers’ as the senior championship really takes shapes on Noreside. While O’Loughlin’s and Mullinavat lifted the league silverware, Clara and Dicksboro both progressed to the last eight, leaving Lisdowney and Graigue Ballycallan to fight it out in the relegation battle to remain at the top table of Kilkenny club hurling. There were also first round wins for Bennettsbridge and Shamrocks Ballyhale, beating Tullaroan and Erins Own respectively. The quarter-final draw took place at UPMC Nowlan Park last Sunday evening and it has thrown up a couple of mouth-watering clashes.
Erins Own found themselves in round one action with a clash against Shamrocks the reward for escaping the relegation semis. A big crowd was in attendance in St John’s Park, and they braved windy conditions to witness a dominant performance from Henry Shefflin’s charges. The Castlecomer side had a strong wind at their backs in the opening period, but the elements didn’t appear to have any negative impact on Shamrocks as they went about their business with a real spring in their step. The hard-working Eoin Kenneally got the scoreboard moving with a well taken point, having been set up by Eoin Cody. Almost immediately, the ‘Comer men were level, thanks to a long distance placed ball effort from Conor McMahon.
Shamrocks were dominating all areas of the pitch in the early stages, and their control was showing as the points started to come. TJ popped over a free just ahead of a lovely brace of points from the lively Niall Shortall and this was added to with a second point of the game for the athletic Eoin Kenneally to leave his side four ahead after eight minutes of action at the home of O’Loughlin Gaels. Fresh from his week off, TJ slotted another free before Davy Buggy’s team got their second of the day following a quick puck out which was claimed and finished by Michael Brennan. Liam Barron then turned provider for the forward running Ronan Corcoran who fired over to continue his scoring run in games this season.
Referee Owen Kenny then had a little chat with Conor Delaney, who was getting a little too ‘hands on’ with his former intercounty teammate, TJ Reid. Mr. Reid converted the resulting placed ball, and this saw Shamrocks move further ahead. The return of Brian Cody to his team has provided a much-needed boost and the powerful stickman fired over a lovely score at the midway point of the half. Eoin Cody who was again dropping deep and roaming out the pitch, picked up possession and went on one of his trademark jinking runs before unleashing a powerful shot that raised a white flag. A little bit of old-fashioned defending saw Jack Buggy presented with an opportunity to open his account, and the dead ball specialist did just that. Then came a real blow to Castlecomer. Already seven behind, the gap got a little wider. A long delivery up the pitch was beautifully flicked in the direction of the on-running Brian Cody who finished past Sean Buggy to extend Henry’s sides lead to double digits. Henry thought his side registered a second major moments later, but unluckily for the Shamrocks, Niall Shortall was adjudged to have been in the square when Eoin Cody picked him out.
With 22 minutes played, Jack Buggy converted a second placed ball for his sides fourth point, but their opponents responded by notching the next three scores, Barron’s Liam and Stephen with efforts from play, while TJ tagged on another free with Conor Delaney also booked for his troubles this time. Michael Brennan fired over his second of the first-round encounter, but Shamrocks replied with a brace of classy points from Eoin Cody and the last score of the half, a second from Stephen Barron to leave the South Kilkenny side fourteen ahead at the short whistle.
A difficult halftime team talk no doubt followed for Davy Buggy, but in the back of the ‘Comer minds no doubt was that they would be back for more top table action next season. A quick start to the second period would have been required for Erins Own to gain a foothold in the game, but the opposite happened. Niall Shortall got things going, rifling over from a tight angle before a lovely team move saw the sliotar worked to TJ who struck over from open play. The legendary Reid then converted another free before another tidy score from the impressive Niall Shortall.
A ball played into the Shamrocks defence caused a few problems, and the whistle sounded. Following a chat with his umpires, referee Owen Kenny decided a penalty was the outcome. Conor McMahon stepped up and struck his effort beyond Dean Mason to move his side onto 1-5, while the opposition had 1-20 to their name. With the wind not only in their sails, but also at their backs, Evan Shefflin struck a booming point from deep inside his own half. A nice point from play followed for Jack Buggy, but as was the case all afternoon, Shamrocks replied with a couple of their own, first a free from TJ then a stunning effort from his own’45 courtesy of Darragh Corcoran, who became the 10th Ballyhale player to get on the scoresheet.
With Adrian Mullen now on the pitch, the classy former All-Star hit a sweet score, having taken a nice pass from Richie Reid. Another foul, another free, another point for TJ, and then a point straight from a Shamrocks training session. They worked the ball out of defence and with power and purpose, they swarmed towards the ‘Comer defence before Niall Shortall provided the finishing touch to raise another white flag, the 26th of the game for Henry’s outfit. Eoin Kenneally capped an all-action performance by notching on another score following a powerful burst through the middle of the pitch. Adrian Mullen and Larry Cody then combined to give Stephen Barron another crack at splitting the posts, and he did just that. Erins Own then raised their second green flag of the afternoon, and it was a lovely catch and shot off his left side from Dan Coogan that left Dean Mason with no chance after 54 minutes.
Eoin Kenneally then came out of defence and gave a pass to Brian Cody who was loitering on the left sideline. Not a bother to Brian, he steadied himself before rifling over from ‘70 yards out. TJ added another free to his tally just ahead of a nice point from sub Finnian Shefflin and the last point for the Shamrocks was a cracker – inside his own ‘45, Darragh Corcoran let rip and his effort sailed over the black spot. Job done, last eight spot sorted.
