LAST UPDATE | 6 Sep 2020
ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Ballyhale have returned to the semi-final stage in Kilkenny after shooting 4-18 in their quarter-final success over Clara today.
The club kingpins for the last two seasons are now one win away from another final appearance on the back of this 19-point victory at Nowlan Park.
They laid the foundations for the victory by blitzing their opponents with four early goals. Eoin Cody set the ball rolling, then Eoin Reid raised two green flags in quick succession before TJ Reid got in on the action to ensure they had netted for the fourth time with only eight minutes gone on the clock.
Ballyhale were in front 4-2 to 0-3 at that juncture and were 4-9 to 0-7 clear by the interval. Wing-back Darragh Corcoran impressed as he hit three points during the game, Reid’s free-taking helped keep them ticking over and the James O’Connor-managed side were emphatic winners in the end over the 2015 champions Clara.
Ballyhale will now face James Stephens at the semi-final stage next Saturday after the Village won the last of the Kilkenny quarter-final this evening against Mullinavat. It finished 1-21 to 1-16 in favour of James Stephens, the winners ahead 1-13 to 0-8 at the interval and then they withstood a late charge from Mullinavat who got within two points before James Stephens raised the last three white flags of the game.
Dicksboro and O’Loughlin Gaels had booked places yesterday in next Saturday’s semi-finals, the city clubs then drawn against each other in this evening’s draw.
In Dublin it was Cuala that booked the first of the spots in the senior hurling final when they got past Lucan Sarsfields by 1-17 to 0-13 in Parnell Park. Cuala trailed 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time but turned it around in the second half with Seán Moran’s 48th minute goal proving a critical score.
Lucan were well in the hunt for three-quarters of the game with Ben Coffey and Kevin Fitzgerald pointing the way for them but Moran’s goal put Cuala ahead 1-11 to 0-12 at that stage. They finished the stronger with Con O’Callaghan, who set up Moran for that crucial score, bagging 0-3 while David Treacy contributed 0-7 overall.
Ballyboden St-Enda’s saw off Na Fianna by 1-15 to 0-12 in the second of the semi-final ties in the capital. It ensures the champions from the last two years will now meet in the Dublin decider on the weekend of 19/20 September, the first time they have featured together in a final.
It was a tight contest with Na Fianna in front 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval before Ballyboden gradually took control and were in front 0-14 to 0-12 when Paul Ryan netted from a penalty in the 56th minute to seal their victory.
Liam Mellows, finalists for the last three years, bowed out of Galway senior hurling race as they were defeated by Loughrea, 0-22 to 1-13, in the day’s opening quarter-final.
Despite an early goal from Tadhg Haran, Liam Mellows were struggling from the off with Loughrea in front 0-13 to 1-6 at half-time and they pushed on from that position to win by six points.
St Thomas and Cappataggle were already through to the Galway semi-finals with Turloughmore then defeating Sarsfields 2-24 to 2-19 in the remaining quarter-final tie this evening. Conor Walsh and Sean Loftus netted the first-half goals for the winners, who were ahead 2-11 to 0-15 at the break. They pushed on in the second half to win by five despite conceding goals to Sarsfields players Kevin Cooney and Ian Fox.
Turloughmore will now take on Loughrea in their semi-final tie with St Thomas to face Cappataggle in the other last four clash.
Results
Dublin SHC semi-finals
- Cuala 1-17 Lucan Sarsfields 0-13
- Ballyboden St-Enda’s 1-15 Na Fianna 0-12
Galway SHC quarter-finals
- Loughrea 0-22 Liam Mellows 1-13
- Turloughmore 2-24 Sarsfields 2-19
Kilkenny SHC quarter-finals
- Ballyhale Shamrocks 4-18 Clara 0-11
- James Stephens 1-21 Mullinavat 1-16
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