The wait for provincial title No.13 goes on for Henry’s men
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB Leinster Club SHC Final
Shamrocks Ballyhale 2-17 St Martin’s 0-24
An injury time score from sub Ben Stafford secured a first ever senior Leinster hurling title for St Martin’s of Wexford as they secured victory over Shamrocks Ballyhale in Croke Park last weekend. The O’Connor brothers were very to the fore as Daithi Hayes’s team set up a mouthwatering clash with Ballygunner in the All-Ireland semifinal to be played the weekend before Christmas. For Henry Shefflin and his side, they will have time to reflect on a season that delivered a 21st county title before dusting themselves down to go again next summer.
The Kilkenny champions made one change to the advertised lineup with Dara Mason replacing the experienced Brian Butler at corner back. When Dublin whistler Chris Mooney got matters underway, the Wexford side hit two early wide’s into Hill 16, the swirling wind proving tricky for the shooters. TJ took on the wind at the other end in the 3rd minute and opened the scoring in the Leinster final from a placed ball. Jack O’Connor then won possession and gave a pass to his cousin Barry who settled the St Martin’s nerves by popping the ball over the bar seconds later to level matters. A long ball from Darragh Corcoran into the danger zone, saw TJ flick it towards Brian Cody, who pointed from close range. Some lovely improvisation from Paddy Mullen saw the ball worked to Richie Reid, who struck over a lovely effort from under the Hogan Stand on halfway. A strong diagonal run from Rory O’Connor resulted in the county man strike over a sweet score, despite pressure from Dara Mason. Some direct running from Eoin Cody saw the livewire held up illegally and TJ slotted over the free.
Then came a major score for the Noresiders. Richie Reid played one of his trademark diagonal balls deep into the St Martin’s defence, where Brian Cody did brilliantly to win it. Under huge pressure from his marker, the full forward managed to pop a pass to his brother Eoin, who turned his man before striking a fierce shot into the ground and beyond the reach of Callum Quirke. Henry’s outfit five ahead after 9 minutes of the provincial decider. Daithi Haye’s men got a much-needed score from the restart, ref Mooney spotting a little push from Joey Holden which saw Rory O’Connor collect his second of the evening. The scorer then turned provider, as he gave a pass to Mikey Coleman, who split the posts from distance, which brought cheers from the travelling Wexford contingent. Eoin Cody then showed his class and skill as he outthought and outfought Joe Barrett before rifling over a stunning score from close to the Hogan sideline.
More battling qualities saw goalscorer Cody win a free which TJ converted to push the Shamrocks lead back out to five points after 17 minutes in Croke Park. Former AFL player Barry O’Connor then showed his strength, holding off his man before passing to Darran Cod who struck over a fine score, similar to that of Eoin Cody moments earlier. O’Connors to the fore again, when Rory gave the ball to Jack who fired over from distance. A little rub of the green for St Martin’s saw Darragh Corcoran blown up for over carrying, when it appeared he was being fouled by about 3 players. The free was worked short and returned to Jack O’Connor to split the posts from a central position and reduce his sides arrears to just 2 points. Evan Shefflin, operating again in midfield then struck over a quality point from the centre of Croker to remind people of his quality.
More physical power from Barry O’Connor saw him draw the foul from Joey Holden, and Barry O’Connor slotted the free. Seconds later, Jack draws the foul from Eoin Kenneally; yellow card to the Ballyhale man. Rory coverts the resulting placed ball and leave just the bare minimum between the sides. Another case of Deja vu, Joey gets blown up again, Rory O’Connor clever and converting his own free, the sides level in Drumcondra. Ronan Corcoran then became the second player in green to receive a yellow card, this time a swipe across the arm of Darren Cod. A lose swing of the hurl from Dara Mason on Mikey Coleman, another free another point and the lead for the men from Piercestown and that is how the first half ended, with the men in maroon taking a 1-point lead to the changing room.
Having settled into their first Leinster decider St Martin’s appeared to be playing with little or no fear and huge desire. Place ball specialist Rory O’Connor got the scoreboard moving after the interval, this time from play to double his sides lead. Some nice play working the ball out of defence by the Wexford side saw Jack O’Connor get the ball and the classy stickman sent over a fine score, his third of the game. From the restart, Daithi Hayes’s men took possession and Darren Cod split the posts from out the field to the delight of the majority in attendance. Shamrocks now trailed by four points. Former Kilkenny camogie All-Star Grace Walsh’s fiancé Jack O’Connor was then shown a yellow card for making contact with the back of Darragh Corcoran’s helmet. TJ Reid converted the free, the Kilkenny sides first score since the 21st minute to make it a one-score game in the early stages of the second half. Paddy Mullen then took a lovely catch before firing over, despite the best efforts of his marker, a well taken score. Eoin Cody’s battling qualities then saw him win a free which he took quickly, passing to TJ, who swiveled and rifled over from midfield for a third Shamrocks score on the bounce, the first time in the final that Henry’s charges had managed this.
The O’Connor brothers then combined once more, this time Rory picking out Jack whose radar was certainly bang on in the Leinster final. The games second major then arrived. Paddy Mullen sent a long low pass towards Niall Shortall who was under pressure, but the ball broke to Eoin Cody who raced towards goal before popping a pass to Shortall who finished superbly to edge the Shamrocks into the lead with about 20 minutes remaining. Henry’s team didn’t hold the lead for long. Jack O’Connor played a quick one, two from a sideline ball before striking off his left-hand side under the Hogan. Another battle won around the middle saw the ball worked out to Mikey Coleman, who fired over from close to the Cusack sideline as the Slaneysiders regained the lead at the Jones’ Road venue. Another O’Connor combo saw St Martin’s double their lead once more. Jack battle with Evan Shefflin, the referee adjudged the Shamrocks man to have fouled the former and brother Rory did the needful from the free.
Shamrocks broke the opposition scoring sequence when Dara Mason fired over having been well picked out by Darragh Corcoran’s accurate pass. Then came a lovely score from the Wexford champions. Rory O’Connor took a brilliant catch from behind Killian Corcoran before turning and rifling over from a tight angle under the Hogan, a classy score from a classy hurler. Brian Cody then notched his second score of the decider from the edge of the ‘D’ to leave his side just one in arrears. Some more excellent desire from Eoin Cody saw the forward fouled and get the free which TJ dispatched to deadlock matters in Croker. One of the St Martin’s men really enjoying the occasion was Jack O’Connor and the intercounty star continued his fine shooting by splitting the posts from the sideline once more. Shamrocks made their first change of the evening with ten minutes remaining, Dylan Aylward replacing Liam Barron.
With time flying by, Richie Reid took a free from deep inside his own half. His brother rose and collected it before handpassing to the supporting Niall Shortall who struck over from wide on the right to even things up one again. St Martin’s cornerback, Joe Barrett capped a terrific defensive display by firing over a point of his own, as his sides supporters found their voices once more. All evening, it had been Eoin Cody that looked the most dangerous of the Shamrocks forwards, and he showed this once more, driving infield before rifling over from ‘65 out to level proceedings again. TJ was then blown for a nudge on Darren Codd and this gave Rory O’Connor the opportunity to add to his growing tally of scores. Henry then sent on John Fitzpatrick for Ronan Corcoran as time ticked by. Niall Shortall then managed to claim possession before splitting the posts as the sides could not be separated. Another change for the Wexford champions saw Bend Stafford replace the hard-working Jake Firman. Paddy Mullen then did well to win possession before somehow offloading to TJ who gave the ball to his younger brother Richie who sent a booming effort between the posts with 59 minutes played in the capital.
A third change for the Noresiders saw Conor Phelan come in for Evan Shefflin as the game entered its final moments. St Martin’s were seeking a levelling score, rucks a plenty, pinball here and there. Brian Cody emerged with the sliotar but was blown up for charging, much to his dismay. Rory O’Connor stepped up and fired over his 11th score of the final to deadlock matters once more. Shamrocks restarted things, and the ball was inside the Wexford sides half, more pinball, more nerves. The ball found its way to Jack O’Connor who bulldosed his way through several green jerseys, and the ball came out to Ben Stafford. The sub steadied himself before striking an incredible effort from under the Cusack Stand which Dean Mason watched sail between his posts. That was to be the winning score. St Martin’s by one in the 2025 Leinster Final. Shamrocks Ballyhale 2-17 St Martin’s 0-24.
Shamrocks Ballyhale scorers: TJ Reid 0-6 (0-5f), Eoin Cody 1-2, Niall Shortall 1-2, Brian Cody 0-2, Richie Reid 0-2, Evan Shefflin 0-1, Paddy Mullen 0-1, Dara Mason 0-1.
St Martin’s scorers: Rory O’Connor 0-11 (0-8f), Jack O’Connor 0-6, Michael Coleman 0-2, Darren Codd 0-2, Barry O’Connor 0-1, Joe Barrett 0-1, Ben Stafford 0-1.
SHAMROCKS BALLYHALE: Dean Mason; Killian Corcoran, Joey Holden, Dara Mason; Eoin Kenneally, Darragh Corcoran, Richie Reid; Evan Shefflin, Ronan Corcoran; Liam Barron, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid; Paddy Mullen, Brian Cody, Niall Shortall.
Subs: Dylan Aylward for Barron 51, John Fitzpatrick for Ronan Corcoran 57, Conor Phelan for Shefflin 60.
ST MARTIN’S: Callum Quirke; Eoin O’Leary, Conor Firman, Joe Barrett; Philip Dempsey, Daithi Waters, Diarmuid O’Leary; David Codd, Aaron Maddock; Darren Codd, Jake Firman, Jack O’Connor; Michael Coleman, Barry O’Connor, Rory O’Connor.
Subs: Ben Maddock for Coleman 50, Ben Stafford for Jake Firman 59,
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
