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County Final reports Ballyhale Shamrocks and Clara take the senior and minor spoils in Nowlan Park
Playing without injured county senior stars Henry Shefflin and James ‘Cha' Fitzpatrick,
Ballyhale Shamrocks retained their Kilkenny SHC title when a final flourish of unanswered points earned them
1-20 to 1-10 over St. Martin's in Nowlan Park on Sunday. Played before an estimated attendance of 9,500
wind assisted St. Martin's led 1-5 to 0-7 half-time thanks to a 13th-minute goal from Eoin McGrath.
Immediately on the restart Ballyhale made a match winning start when Eoin Reid goaled to put his side in front.
Having stayed within three points of the winners with ten minutes remaining St. Martins eventually found
Ballyhales greater experience too big an obstacle to pass as the Southerners collected their 11th. title on a
Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-20 - St. Martin's 1-10 scorline. Amid scenes of great jubilation County Chairman Ned Quinn presented Shamrocks captain Patrick Reid
was with the St. Canices Credit Union Tom Walsh Cup.
Scorers: Ballyhale Shamrocks: T.J. Reid 0-10, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '65. Eoin Reid 1-2, Patrick Reid 0-4,
Colin Fennelly 0-3, Eamonn Fitzpatrick 0-1. St. Martin's: John Maher 0-8, all frees, Eoin McGrath 1-2.
The game was refereed by Domo Connolly of Mooncoin. Shamrocks now play Carlow champions Mount Leinster Rangers in the
1st round of the AIB Leinster Club Championship on Sunday next. Clara collect their first Minor Title
Earlier in the day an impressive Clara side accounted for neighbours and City Rivals James Stephens
in the Kilkenny Honda Centre minor hurling final. The game of a high quality was played in blustery showery
conditions as Clara benefiting from the second half breeze pulled away to record a 2-14 to 1-10 victory.
After the game County Bord Na Nóg Chairman and fellow Clara man Joe Pyke had the rare honour of
presenting the trophy to his own club when Liam Ryan accepted the trophy on behalf of his victorious team. County Final Preview
Hurling Supporters from far and wide are showing a great interest in the destination of Sundays County Honours
as reigning All Ireland and County Champions Ballyhale Shamrocks put their titles on the line against the new kids
on the block from the St. Martins Club. Adding to the unfolding drama over the past weeks has been the ever inmproving form of
St. Martins whose semi-final replay win over the Fenians has added a wealth of experience, whilst the loss of
Henry Shefflin and Cha Fitzpatrick will be immeasurable for the Shamrocks side. St Canices Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship
County Final
Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-20 St. Martin's 1-10 | Kilkenny Honda Centre Minor Hurling Roinn A Championship
County Final
Clara 2-14 James Stephens 0-10 |
The Finalists
Sundays Final sees Ballyhale Shamrocks appearing in their third successive final attempting to put back to back victories
together against a young St. Martins side appearing in their first final since the sides met in 1991.
Seeking their ninth Tom Walsh Cup on that day Ballyhale Shamrocks held sway by 3-16 to 1-8 thereby balancing the results
between the sides when St. Martins took their first title with a 1-14 to 1-7 victory in Centenary Year as Ballyhale Shamrocks
were seeking their second three in a row.
Four years previously players from the same areas had played a classic series when Muckalee Ballyfoyle Rangers and
Ballyhale Shamrocks went to a replay before the Tom Walsh Cup went the Southern way.
Titles to Date Ballyhale Shamrocks (11) 1978,1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2006, 2007 St. Martins (1) 1984
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