Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 5-19
St Martin’s (Wexford) 1-16
Conor McKenna reports from Nowlan Park Park
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS BOOKED their place in the Leinster senior club hurling final, following a comprehensive 15-point victory over St. Martin’s in UPMC Nowlan Park today.
Henry Shefflin’s side were outstanding throughout the match and played some fantastic hurling, with TJ Reid particularly impressive, scoring 2-14 in what was a fantastic individual performance.
St. Martin’s will be devastated on the other hand, as they failed to perform to anywhere near their potential and were second best from the very start.
Ballyhale Shamrocks scored a goal after 17 seconds, with Brian Cody finding the net after a pass from Evan Shefflin.
Points from Eoin Cody, TJ Reid and Richie Reid followed, as Shefflin’s side held a six-point lead with just three minutes played.
St. Martin’s responded with a point from Jake Firman, which was quickly cancelled out following a score from Richie Reid.
TJ Reid and Joe Coleman exchanged scores, before a glorious side-line cut from the former gave his side a seven-point advantage.
The gap was at eight points in the 25th minute, when Ballyhale Shamrocks were awarded a penalty after Colin Fennelly was fouled and TJ Reid made no mistake with the finish, to stretch his sides to 11.
The Kilkenny champions were awarded another penalty moments later, with Colin Fennelly once again fouled, but Reid was unable to convert on this occasion, with his effort going narrowly wide.
Ballyhale held a 2-12 to 0-7 lead at the interval and the game was essentially over as a contest at half-time.
The victors scored two goals in as many minutes after half-time, with Eoin Reid and Colin Fennelly finding the target, as St. Martin’s trailed by 17 points heading into the final quarter.
TJ Reid scored his sides fifth goal in the 47th minute to leave the gap at 19 and the Wexford side were playing purely for pride at this juncture.
Michael Codd’s stoppage time goal was no more than consolation, as Ballyhale Shamrocks eased to a 15-point victory and will face the winner of tomorrow’s semi-final between Rathdowney/Errill and St. Mullin’s in the decider.
Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 2-14 (0-11f, 0-1 sideline, 0-1 pen), Colin Fennelly, Eoin Reid, Brian Cody 1-0 each, Richie Reid , Eoin Cody 0-2 each, Adrian Mullen 0-1,
Scorers for St. Martin’s: Joe Coleman 0-9 (0-8f, 0-1 ’65), Michael Codd 1-0, Jack O’Connor, Harry O’Connor 0-2 each, Jake Firman, Darren Codd and Rory O’Connor 0-1 each.
Ballyhale Shamrocks
1. Dean Mason
2. Darragh Corcoran
3. Joey Holden
4. Darren Mullen
5. Evan Shefflin
6. Michael Fennelly
7. Richie Reid
17. Conor Phelan
8. Ronan Corcoran
10. Adrian Mullen
9. T.J. Reid
11. Brian Cody
13. Eoin Reid
15. Eoin Cody
14. Colin Fennelly
Subs
12. Joey Cuddihy for A Mullen (37)
26. Conor Walsh for R Corcoran (46)
18. Gavin Butler for R Reid (50)
24. Eoin Kenneally for E Reid (51)
22. Mark Aylward for E Cody (53)
St. Martin’s
1. Luke White
3. Joe O’Connor
2. Conor Firman
18. Eoin O’Leary
5. Daithi Waters
8. Aaron Maddock
7. Patrick O’Connor
9. Harry O’Connor
21. Michael Codd
12. Jake Firman
11. Jack O’Connor
10. Joe Coleman
13. Ciaran Lyng
14. Rory O’Connor
15. Mikey Coleman
Subs
20. Darren Codd for M Coleman (36)
4. Mark Maloney for Jake Firman (46)
22. Jack Devereux for P O’Connor (58)
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
Murray Kinsella and Bernard Jackman join Gavan Casey in studio to assess the four provinces and their chances heading into the 2019/20 Champions Cup campaign.