Ballyhale Shamrocks restored their winning stance as they comprehensively destroyed James Stephens in a disappointing JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior League final in Nowlan Park last Saturday evening.
Two goals in the opening 10 minutes from the three-in-a-row chasing champions, appeared to put them in the driving seat, but the Village men responded as they trailed 2-8 to 0-10 at the interval.
Shamrocks maintained the upper hand during the third quarter before running riot in the closing quarter as three goals sent the champions en-route to a 21-point victory on a 5-19 to 0-13 score-line with Colin Fennelly and the Reid brothers causing massive headaches for the Village defence.
This landslide victory came despite Henry Shefflin having one of his quieter games, and he was substituted along with All-Ireland winning captain James “Cha” Fitzpatrick, TJ Reid, Eamonn Walsh and Michael Dermody.
2006 All-Ireland winning captain Jackie Tyrell had to be taken off with a serious injury as a result of an accidental collision, and the team was also minus the services of hurler-of-the-year favourite, Eoin Larkin.
The curtain-raiser was the Shield decider that saw Carrickshock easily defeat O’Loughlin Gaels 2-18 to 1-13 with inter-county panellists Richie Power, John Dalton, John Tennyson and Michael Rice all starring.
The St Johns’ outfit were minus the services of Martin Comerford who was ruled out for the remainder of the year as a result of the injury sustained in the All-Ireland senior final.
The senior and intermediate knockout championships began, and the matches threw up interesting results.
The first round matches based on finishing league positions included two relegation semi-finals.
Graigue-Ballycallan inspired by Eddie Brennan and Niall Millea defeated a poor Dicksboro outfit 0-18 to 1-10 in a thumbscrew affair at John Locke Park, Callan on Saturday, while the other relegation semi-final saw intermediate champions Clara overcome Young Irelands of Gowran 0-14 to 0-10 in Bennettsbridge on Sunday as both sets of forwards failed to strike fire.
The relegation decider will be contested between Young Irelands of Gowran and Dicksboro, as the Gowran outfit will be battling to maintain their senior status for the second consecutive year.
Whichever forward line shines brighter will maintain their senior status for 2009.
Tullaroan caused a surprise, defeating last year’s county finalists St Martins 1-16 to 0-15 having led 1-11 to 0-7 at the interval, while inspired by the brilliant JJ Delaney, Fenians held off a spirited revival from Dunnammaggin as they won 2-12 to 2-10.
