Kilkenny trio reach Leinster finals

The greatest year in the history of Kilkenny hurling rolls on as 2008 reaches its conclusion.

Ballyhale Shamrocks, Tullogher-Rosbercon, and Erin’s Own (Castlecomer ) go forward to Leinster finals in senior, junior and intermediate respectively as Kilkenny clubs are attempting to repeat the feat of their inter-county exploits by exerting dominance at club level.

Ballyhale Shamrocks sportingly decided to forfeit home advantage to Westmeath senior hurling champions Raheny as they travelled to Mullingar for their Leinster senior hurling club semi-final.

The Shamrocks contingent stayed in the midlands for the weekend and they were guest of honours at the Mullingar greyhound racing meeting on Saturday night.

The hat-trick Kilkenny senior hurling champions effortlessly cruised to victory as they took control from the outset.

They built up a 0-13 to 0-5 lead at the interval as Henry Shefflin, and Eoin Reid were scoring at will.

Without having to get out of first gear, Shamrocks repeated their first-half scoring feat adding a dozen points as they comprehensively cantered to a 17-point victory.

Henry was top scorer with 0-10 (0-7 frees ), while Eoin Reid (0-6 ), Michael Fennelly(0-3 ), a brace of each from James “Cha” Fitzpatrick and TJ Reid and a point each from Bob Alyward, and substitutes Tom Coogan and David Hoyne completed the scoring spree.

They’ll face Birr in the Leinster final showdown on Sunday week, as Shamrocks will be attempting to revenge last year’s loss when losing out to the Offaly champions by 1-13 to 1-10 as they were without Henry and “Cha”.

Birr required extra-time and their experience to brush off the challenge of a gallant St Martin’s as they recorded a 2-19 to 2-15 victory in Tullamore.

Tullogher-Rosbercon travelled to Shinrone to face Offaly intermediate champions Ballyskenagh in a rip-roaring action-packed contest.

Brendan Murphy opened the scoring with a point from play after just 22 seconds, before Walter Walsh raced through to blast home a cracking goal in the 7th minute.

They outscored their Offaly opponents 0-8 to 0-3 from the 7th minute until half-time as John Barron and Walter Walsh (2 each ), Liam Barron (free ), Pat Hartley (long distance free ), Shane Ryan and a wonder effort from Molling Cotterell completed the first-half scoring tally.

Ballyskenagh responded and goals from John Dooley and midfielder Alan Middleton drew them level by the 44th minute. 2-6 to 1-9.

However, the south Kilkenny men inspired by the colossal Pat Hartley who produced a brilliant display in giving one of the greatest centre-back performances at club level.

Hartley’s pointed ’65 began the scoring sequence of six unanswered points that sealed victory as superb long range efforts from Richie Dollard and Eddie Conway and further scores from Shane Ryan, Walter Walsh, and John Barron ensured a provincial final showdown with Clongeen of Wexford.

Erin’s Own (Castlecomer ) made it three Kilkenny wins from three as they overturned a 4-point first-half deficit to record a 0-14 to 1-8 victory over Blackwater.

Damian Fogarty inspired the ‘Comer charge with a brilliant display at centre-back as David Buggy, Martin Boran, Michael Moran, goalkeeper Tom Brophy and substitutes Donal Meally and Michael Murphy all contributed immensely to a hard-earned victory.

Erin’s Own will face Meath senior hurling champions Kilmessan in the provincial final on Sunday.

Graiguenamanagh landed the roinn C under-21 county title as they defeated Graiguenamanagh in a hard-fought battle 1-9 to 0-10 in Thomastown on Saturday.

The Roinn A competition keeps dragging on and the clash of city rivals in the Northern semi-final Dicksboro and O’Loughlin Gaels that was postponed due to bereavement went ahead at Lachtain Pairc, Freshford.

The match began 45 minutes late and finished in near darkness.

O’Loughlins led 0-7 to 1-3 at the interval as a goal early in the second-half appeared to put the St Johns contingent firmly on their way to victory.

However, the ‘Boro responded and points from Cillian Brennan and Adrian Stapleton and a goal mid-way through the second-half by county minor panelist Enda Malone proved decisive as Palmerstown outfit have to wait until December 7 for their Northern final showdown.

That’s due to Erin’s Own involvement in the Leinster intermediate campaign, and the ‘Comer clubs involvement in the u-21 campaign.

Their scheduled clash with Clara will now not go ahead until the following weekend.

The Southern under-21 final between Ballyhale Shamrocks and Rower-Inistioge is provisionally schedule for this Sunday.

With the Northern final not scheduled until December 7, the under-21 final between the Northern and Southern champions won’t be played until the weekend of December 14.

The scheduling of under-21 competitions during the winter months has been questioned by many.

The Hickey brothers Eddie and Rory were in inspiring form as Lisdowney easily defeated Emeralds 1-17 to 2-7.

They’ll now face bitter enemies St Patrick’s (Ballyragget ) in the northern showdown on Sunday.

Carrickshock won a tight-scoring southern final as a first-half goal from Andrew Power helped the Hugginstown contingent to a slender 2-6 to 1-8 victory over Mullinavat in damp underfoot conditions down in Mooncoin.

 

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