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kilkennyobserver.ie
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 December 2021
Hurling matters
Sport
BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship Final, Croke Park 19.12.21 Shamrocks Ballyhale (Kilkenny) 6-23 Clough Ballacolla (Laois) 0-14 Shamrocks Ballyhale laid down a huge marker as their bid for yet another All-Ireland club title gathered serious pace at headquarters last Sunday. Having seen off the challenges of Mount Leinster Rangers and St Rynagh’s in the earlier provincial rounds, James O’Connor’s men put on their best display of the season to date to claim a 3rd Leinster title on the bounce. Goals win games, and Shamrocks had six of the best as they showed their undoubted clash in dismantling the Laois Champions. Coming into the final, all the talk outside of Kilkenny, was the impressive form of Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher, who had amassed a serious personal tally - 5-72 in Clough/ Ballacolla’s run to the provisional decider. In the wide-open spaces of Croke Park, Picky was never afforded the time and space necessary to show his talent as Darren Mullen did an exceptional man-marking job on the Laois dangerman as he was held scoreless from play. Maher’s only scores would come via three placed balls. The Kilkenny champions opened their account in the first minute, when Colin Fennelly was fouled and TJ slotted over from close to the sideline under the Hogan stand. The Laois champions responded a minute later when their newly-wed star, Willie Dunphy hit a lovely point from long-range to level things up. Then on three minutes, a long ball into the danger zone saw Brian Cody win possession under pressure. somehow, he managed to prod the ball in the direction of the supporting Eoin Cody, who picked it up, before dispatching it unerringly to the back of the net for his side’s first major of the day. A couple of minutes later, there was a slight scare for Ballyhale when TJ Reid appeared to catch his studs in the turf when nudged to the ground. Thankfully, after a little attention from the medical team, he was ok to resume action. Clough/Ballacolla then fired three unanswered points thanks to scores from Lee Cleere, Willie Dunphy and the best of the bunch, a long-range beauty from midfielder Aidan Corby. The game was tied, 0-4 to 1-1. Paddy Mullen was then fouled, which allowed TJ to pop over another score to put his side one up. Good pressure from TJ saw Shamrocks awarded a sideline cut, which Eoin Cody fired in towards the ‘21. TJ won possession before being fouled. TJ struck the placed ball over. From the puck out, Aidan Corby grabbed the ball on the run before striking over another lovely score on the run. The same player repeated the feat moments later – his radar was definitely in! Paddy Mullen then saw his name in the book following a dangerous challenge on 16 minutes. Joey Holden then picked out Eoin Cody with a lovely pass. Cody cut inside his man, before striking over a nice score. Shamrocks 1-up at the first water break, 1-4 to 0-6. The first score of the 2nd period would be a Ballyhale one. Nice play on the sideline, saw Adrian Mullen pick out Eoin Kenneally, who ran straight for goal, before being halted in his tracks illegally. TJ punished the foul. Adrian Mullen was then harshly adjudged to have fouled Robbie Phelan. Picky took the free and fired it over from his own half, for his first score of the final in the 20th minute. From Dean Mason’s puck out, Paddy Mullen collected the ball out on the left and fired over a well taken score. Adrian Mullen then took a pass in his own half before arrowing a lovely pass in on top of TJ, who saw his captain get away from his marker. TJ beat the full-back with his pass, Colin Fennelly collected the ball and made no mistake as he fired the ball past the Clough/Ballacolla keeper Dunne. The Laois men, stung from conceding a second major responded with two quick-fire points from than man Aidan Corby and full-forward Willie Dunphy. Colin Fennelly then caught
Christmas Time...Richie Reid makes Laois Whine! Six goal Shamrocks cruise to Leinster glory
Ronan Corcoran fires over a lovely point
Croke Park - home to this year’s Leinster SHC CLub Final
