IF HENRY SHEFFLIN is slowing down, he didn’t show any signs of it in Tullamore on Saturday. The Ballyhale Shamrocks wizard hit five glorious points from play and was the instigator of so much more as the Kilkenny champions and competition specialists advanced to yet another All-Ireland senior club hurling final.
Shefflin’s freshness and hunger for battle was really evident and it appears that the 36-year-old has put his injury troubles of recent years firmly behind him. After playing a bit-part role in Brian Cody’s county side last year, perhaps the time out has done Shefflin the world of good.
But such is his dedication to the Ballyhale club, Shefflin was involved in all five challenge games played in the New Year before the Gort clash. Shefflin’s leadership skills and dedication to the cause remain as strong as ever but will we see him back in a Kilkenny shirt after St Patrick’s Day?
Shefflin finished with a superb 0-5 on Saturday. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
2. Can Kilmallock end Limerick’s All-Ireland club famine?
No Limerick team has ever managed to lift the Tommy Moore Cup but Kilmallock will fancy their chances on St Patrick’s Day. Even without suspended Gavin O’Mahony, Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin’s men will fancy their chances of springing a surprise against Ballyhale at Croke Park.
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But in three previous finals contested by Limerick clubs, Shannonside’s finest have fallen at the final hurdle against Kilkenny opposition. Kilmallock have bridged a long gap back to 1993, when a Limerick club last contested a final, but they were beaten by Galway’s Sarsfields on that occasion.
In 1991, Kilkenny side Glenmore beat Patrickswell in the showpiece decider and Ballybrown were beaten by Ballyhale in the 1990 final. But with Limerick hurling very much on the rise, Kilmallock believe that Tommy Moore will be paying a visit on St Patrick’s night. Another question to consider is who will drop to the bench to accommodate O’Mahony’s return?
3. Gort miss the boat once again
Gort have found the All-Ireland semi-final stage a tough nut to crack, winning just one of four at the penultimate stage. Gort did contest the 1984 final, losing ironically to Ballyhale, but they’ve now lost semi-finals in 1981, 2012 and 2015. Galway clubs have won the All-Ireland title on 13 occasions, with Portumna, St Thomas’s, Clarinbridge, Athenry, Sarsfields, Kiltormer and Castlegar all savouring that winning taste.
But Gort will have to wait at least another year for their day in the sun. With a host of former underage Galway stars in their ranks, the chances are that they will have another crack at the big prize in the not too distant future.
But Gort have lost All-Ireland semi-finals in two of the last four seasons and the Galway championship is an annual dogfight with top class opposition to contend with.
4. Ballyhale’s firepower will be hot to handle
Gort showed that Ballyhale Shamrocks can be opened up at the back but a glittering array of stars up front bolsters them with a ‘we’ll score more than you’ philosophy. Brothers TJ Reid and Eoin Reid popped up with goals against Gort and of course, there was that man Henry Shefflin pulling the strings. Patrick Reid played his part with two points while current Kilkenny star Colin Fennelly and ex-Cats ace James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick make up the remainder of a potent forward line.
Fitzpatrick failed to register a score against Gort and had one of his less influential days but here’s a guy who’s still only 30 years of age and with five All-Ireland senior medals in his back pocket.
Bob Aylward, 36 years young, and Conor Walsh have forged a free-scoring midfield partnership while former Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly is anchoring the half-back line.
Conor Barry on the attack for Kilmallock. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
5. Portaferry’s big day passes them by
Portaferry initially thought they would have to travel 350km to lock horns with Kilmallock in the All-Ireland semi-final. A frozen Semple Stadium ensured that they had a much shorter trip to Mullingar but Portaferry left their best form on the team coach.
The worry was that they were over-reliant on the scoring prowess of Down county star Paul Braniff for scores and that’s how it transpired. The bookies don’t often get it wrong and they priced Portaferry at 15/2 for victory. But Kilmallock never let them get a run at it and Portaferry managed just five points from play over the course of the hour.
Predictably, Braniff led the way in the scoring stakes with 0-9, including seven points from placed balls. But it’s been a fabulous campaign for Portaferry, who smashed the Antrim stranglehold on the Ulster club championship. They can still reflect on their landmark season with some pride.
5 talking points from the AIB All-Ireland club hurling semi-finals
1. King Henry is as good as ever
IF HENRY SHEFFLIN is slowing down, he didn’t show any signs of it in Tullamore on Saturday. The Ballyhale Shamrocks wizard hit five glorious points from play and was the instigator of so much more as the Kilkenny champions and competition specialists advanced to yet another All-Ireland senior club hurling final.
Shefflin’s freshness and hunger for battle was really evident and it appears that the 36-year-old has put his injury troubles of recent years firmly behind him. After playing a bit-part role in Brian Cody’s county side last year, perhaps the time out has done Shefflin the world of good.
But such is his dedication to the Ballyhale club, Shefflin was involved in all five challenge games played in the New Year before the Gort clash. Shefflin’s leadership skills and dedication to the cause remain as strong as ever but will we see him back in a Kilkenny shirt after St Patrick’s Day?
2. Can Kilmallock end Limerick’s All-Ireland club famine?
No Limerick team has ever managed to lift the Tommy Moore Cup but Kilmallock will fancy their chances on St Patrick’s Day. Even without suspended Gavin O’Mahony, Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin’s men will fancy their chances of springing a surprise against Ballyhale at Croke Park.
But in three previous finals contested by Limerick clubs, Shannonside’s finest have fallen at the final hurdle against Kilkenny opposition. Kilmallock have bridged a long gap back to 1993, when a Limerick club last contested a final, but they were beaten by Galway’s Sarsfields on that occasion.
In 1991, Kilkenny side Glenmore beat Patrickswell in the showpiece decider and Ballybrown were beaten by Ballyhale in the 1990 final. But with Limerick hurling very much on the rise, Kilmallock believe that Tommy Moore will be paying a visit on St Patrick’s night. Another question to consider is who will drop to the bench to accommodate O’Mahony’s return?
3. Gort miss the boat once again
Gort have found the All-Ireland semi-final stage a tough nut to crack, winning just one of four at the penultimate stage. Gort did contest the 1984 final, losing ironically to Ballyhale, but they’ve now lost semi-finals in 1981, 2012 and 2015. Galway clubs have won the All-Ireland title on 13 occasions, with Portumna, St Thomas’s, Clarinbridge, Athenry, Sarsfields, Kiltormer and Castlegar all savouring that winning taste.
But Gort will have to wait at least another year for their day in the sun. With a host of former underage Galway stars in their ranks, the chances are that they will have another crack at the big prize in the not too distant future.
But Gort have lost All-Ireland semi-finals in two of the last four seasons and the Galway championship is an annual dogfight with top class opposition to contend with.
4. Ballyhale’s firepower will be hot to handle
Gort showed that Ballyhale Shamrocks can be opened up at the back but a glittering array of stars up front bolsters them with a ‘we’ll score more than you’ philosophy. Brothers TJ Reid and Eoin Reid popped up with goals against Gort and of course, there was that man Henry Shefflin pulling the strings. Patrick Reid played his part with two points while current Kilkenny star Colin Fennelly and ex-Cats ace James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick make up the remainder of a potent forward line.
Fitzpatrick failed to register a score against Gort and had one of his less influential days but here’s a guy who’s still only 30 years of age and with five All-Ireland senior medals in his back pocket.
Bob Aylward, 36 years young, and Conor Walsh have forged a free-scoring midfield partnership while former Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly is anchoring the half-back line.
5. Portaferry’s big day passes them by
Portaferry initially thought they would have to travel 350km to lock horns with Kilmallock in the All-Ireland semi-final. A frozen Semple Stadium ensured that they had a much shorter trip to Mullingar but Portaferry left their best form on the team coach.
The worry was that they were over-reliant on the scoring prowess of Down county star Paul Braniff for scores and that’s how it transpired. The bookies don’t often get it wrong and they priced Portaferry at 15/2 for victory. But Kilmallock never let them get a run at it and Portaferry managed just five points from play over the course of the hour.
Predictably, Braniff led the way in the scoring stakes with 0-9, including seven points from placed balls. But it’s been a fabulous campaign for Portaferry, who smashed the Antrim stranglehold on the Ulster club championship. They can still reflect on their landmark season with some pride.
Regan strikes late to nick the Walsh Cup for Galway
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Looking Back Ballyhale Shamrocks Kilmallock thetoughest