BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS AND Clara – who have carved up the last four Kilkenny senior hurling titles between them – have been paired together at the semi-final stage of this year’s championship on Noreside.
Last night’s draw saw Ballyhale, winners in 2012 and 2014, matched up against the reigning champions Clara, who also won in 2013.
The two clubs contested the 2014 final with Ballyhale triumphing by 1-20 to 1-13 before they went on to add Leinster and All-Ireland titles.
The other semi-final will see O’Loughlin Gaels, last year’s finalists and champions in 2010, up against Rower-Inistioge, who last reached a senior final in 1977. Rower-Inistioge won the All-Ireland club intermediate title in February 2014.
Several Kilkenny senior players will be involved like Joey Holden, TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly (all Ballyhale Shamrocks), Clara trio Shane Prendergast, Lester Ryan and Conor O’Shea, along with Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge) and Mark Bergin (O’Loughlin Gaels).
The two games will take place next Sunday afternoon in a double-header in Nowlan Park. The Kilkenny champions are not in action in the Leinster senior club championship until Sunday 20 November.
The Kilkenny intermediate semi-finals are penciled in for Sunday 23 October with the standout game involving Carrickshock – the club of John and Richie Power, John Tennyson and Michael Rice – against Tullaroan, the club of Tommy Walsh and Padraig Walsh.
Fixtures
Kilkenny senior hurling championship
Sunday 16 October
Semi-finals
O’Louglin Gaels v Rower-Inistioge, Nowlan Park, 2pm
Ballyhale Shamrocks v Clara, Nowlan Park, 3.30pm
Kilkenny intermediate hurling championship
Saturday 15 October
Quarter-final replays
Thomastown v Tullogher-Rosbercon, Inistioge, 2pm
Glenmore v St Patrick’s, St John’s Park, 2pm
Sunday 23 October
Semi-finals
Carrickshock v Tullaroan, Nowlan Park
Thomastown/Tullogher-Rosbercon v Glenmore/St Patrick’s, Nowlan Park
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