Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-21
Clonkill 2-15
Conor McKenna reports from Mullingar
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS ADVANCED to the semi-finals of the Leinster championship, following a nine-point victory over Clonkill today.
Ballyhale were always in control despite a gallant effort from Clonkill, who competed very well for large parts of the game.
Brendan Murtagh was fantastic for Clonkill scoring 2-9 over the course of the game, while Ballyhale forward Eoin Cody also excelled, registering 3-4 from play.
The Kilkenny side scored three points in the first five minutes to give themselves an early lead, with Eoin Cody (2) and TJ Reid finding the target.
A goal from Murtagh levelled proceedings, with the former Westmeath stars effort beating the goalkeeper, after a pass from Niall Mitchell.
Eoin Cody responded with a point for Ballyhale, before the same player scored his side’s first goal, as his 12th minute effort made its way into the back of the net and gave the Kilkenny side a four point lead.
Ballyhale scored three successive points to put daylight between the sides, before Luke Loughlin opened his account.
Henry Shefflin’s side got their second in the 22nd minute, with Eoin Cody again finding the net, after being set up by Michael Fennelly.
Eoin Cody soon after pointed for Ballyhale to stretch his sides lead to ten, but Clonkill scored three points in succession to give themselves hope.
It was tit for tat up until the interval, as the visitors held a 2-9 to 1-5 lead at half-time, but Clonkill suffered a fatal blow after the interval, as Eoin Cody completed his hat-trick, after Colin Fennelly’s initial effort was saved.
The outcome of this match was never in doubt from that point onwards though Clonkill never gave up and a 46th minute goal from Murtagh left eight between the sides.
Ballyhale held out for a nine-point win and advanced to the semi-final, where they will face Wexford champions St. Martin’s.
Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: Eoin Cody 3-4, TJ Reid 0-11 (0-7f), Evan Shefflin, Richie Reid, Adrian Mullen, Eoin Reid, Eoin Kenneally, Mark Aylward 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clonkill: Brendan Murtagh 2-9 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65), Niall Dowdall 0-2, Luke Loughlin, Luke Folan, Aidan Price, Shane Power 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
8. Ronan Corcoran
11. TJ Reid
10. Adrian Mullen
12. Brian Cody
26. Joey Cuddihy
13. Eoin Reid
15. Eoin Cody
14. Colin Fennelly
Subs
22. Mark Aylward for B Cody (half-time)
24. Eoin Kenneally for Cuddihy (39)
17. Conor Phelan for C Fennelly (51)
18. Gavin Butler for M Fennelly (54)
20. Paddy Hearne for Corcoran (59)
Clonkill
1. Andrew Mitchell
2. Darragh Egerton
4. John Kenny
3. Adam Price
7. Luke Folan
6. Paddy Dowdall
5. Kelvin Reilly
9. Christopher Austin
8. Shane Power
11. Peadar Scally
12. Luke Loughlin
29. Niall Mitchell
19. Jordan Smyth
14. Brendan Murtagh
13. Niall Dowdall
Subs
30. Eoin Price for Kenny (23)
15. Anthony Price for Austin (39)
20. Mark Keegan for Scally (43)
10. Ciaran Nolan for Smyth (47)
26. Enda Loughlin for N Mitchell (51)
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
Less of the chat about the attendance and more about the great game that evolved in the most awful conditions. Hats off to the players. Tremendous commitment shown.
The pubs and hotels in Dublin must have been hoping for a Limerick win today. 35 or 40 thousand Limerick fans would have made a weekend of it in the capital for the final. The same doesn’t apply to KK as they are there nearly every year.
If 30-40k Kilkenny fans went to a game that would be about 50% of the population. So probably a 25-30% of the population is not half bad turn out!
Show me the stats to back that up or are you just another anti Kk griper?
I’m not anti KK in any way. If u read my contributions on other threads relating to today’s match u would see that. It’s just perfectly understandable … What’s rare is wonderful – in recent decades Limerick average one all Ireland appearance every 8 or 9 years. For Kilkenny it’s almost as common as Christmas.
Not even 50,000 at today’s game!!!
Wayne – u are aware that finals always attract larger attendances than finals?! People living abroad, those struggling financially etc will come for finals where it wouldn’t be realistic (or affordable) to come for semi also. Strange comment …
* finals always attract higher attendance than semis
Wow really thanks for that nugget of wisdom! 190,000 population between today’s 3 counties, and then neutrals! I was there today and I’m a Dub. Attendances down so far this summer by 50-60 thousand across all games.
GAA should be looking at free kids tickets for weaker hurling countys for days like today. Or hold today’s game in Semple instead reducing costs for fans
U were there today, congrats … it probably cost u approx €35 between ticket and getting bus/luas. Treble that amount at least, for someone travelling from Limerick or a few hundred €€ if the wife and kids were with u … Get real Wayne !
Pay attention and read what I suggested 42,000 today, would Semple not have been a better location?
Semi finals and finals always take place in Croke Park. As a Dub u should know that – Teams and their fans know that … If today’s game had been in Thurles the attendance would maybe have been bigger .. But only marginally.
& the costs to the fans attending would have been??? Lower :)
Send an email/write a letter to Peter McKenna or Sean O Neill and ask them to put the hurling semi final(s) on in Thurles and let me know how that works out for u ….
Limerick (City & County) alone has a population of over 160k, so the 3 counties together would have a lot more than 190k. Saying that I was a little disappointed with today’s attendance, 16k down on last year’s.