The scoring prowess of brothers TJ and Eoin Reid played a big part as Ballyhale Shamrocks claimed their fourth Kilkenny County Championship in-a-row.
Over 8,000 spectators watched as Ballyhale were made to work hard for a 1-14 to 1-11 victory over James Stephens at a windswept Nowlan Park on Sunday.
TJ Reid was the star of the day, leaving Henry Shefflin in the shade - Shefflin hit an uncharacteristic six wides. TJ struck six points from play while brother Eoin Reid finished with 1-3 to his name.
This game had it all, the thrills, the spills and a few tantrums. With one minute on the clock Eoin Reid got the ball rolling with his first point of the game for Shamrocks. This was followed up by an Eoin Larkin free for the Village. This was the nature of the game throughout, with both teams level on three occasions. Many people who made their way to Nowlan Park were expecting a one-sided display but this wasn’t the case. The Village threw everything at the Shamrocks and fought to the bitter end. The difference between the two teams was the strength of the Shamrocks defence and their speed - and a family of Reids.
The Village, however, had their own stars on show. Philly Larkin battled hard in defence as did Jackie Tyrrell, who even managed to score a point for his side. A great number of their scores, however, came from frees with points from play hard to come by. The first half was competitive, but scrappy, at times. There were only two points between the sides at half-time, Ballyhale leading by 0-6 to 0-4.
The restart was more intense and James Cha Fitzpatrick, who didn’t have his usual free flowing game, scored a good point from play. This was followed up by an Eoin Larkin free and Niall Tyrrell point for the Village. TJ Reid and a Henry Shefflin free upped their ante before Eoin Reid's goal, which came when he touched a long Mark Aylward ball past the ‘keeper, put them in the driving seat with a quarter of an hour left. However, just when it looked as though a great Shamrocks lead would see them home, Eoin McCormack scored an excellent goal for the Village. David Walton and Mathew Ruth soon evened everything with two well-taken points. The scoreboard now read 1-9 apiece.
But just when the Village thought they could relax up stepped TJ Reid to score two points in succession. While Eoin Larkin scored a point from a free, it wasn’t to be for a valiant James Stephens. A point from Henry Shefflin, another from TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly completed their tally and the four-in-row was theirs.
Ballyhale will enter the Leinster championship this weekend to take on Wexford champions Oulart-the-Ballagh.
Teams:
Ballyhale Shamrocks: J Connolly; A Cuddihy, A Cummins, T Coogan; P Shefflin, E Walsh (capt ), B Aylward; J Fitzpatrick (0-1 ), M Fennelly; TJ Reid (0-6 ), H Shefflin (0-3, all frees ), C Fennelly (0-1 ); D Hoyne, E Reid (1-3 ), M Aylward. Subs: B Costello for M Aylward (50 mins ), P Holden for Cuddihy (59 mins ).
James Stephens: D Brennan; N McQuillan, P Larkin, T Keogh; D Cody (0-1, free ), J Tyrrell (0-1 ), E Sheehy; D McCormack, N Tyrrell (0-1 ); E McCormack (1-0 ), G Whelan, E Larkin (capt, 0-5, frees ); J Murray, M Ruth (0-1 ), S Brennan. Subs: B McEvoy for Brennan (half time ), D Walton (0-2 ) for Murray (42 mins ), S Campion for D McCormack (47 mins ).
Referee: Pat Dunphy
