Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-17 Gort 1-15
Henry Shefflin rolled back the years as Ballyhale Shamrocks saw off Gort by 2-17 to 1-15 in the semi-finals of the AIB GAA All-Ireland Hurling Club Championships in Tullamore.
Shefflin was named man of the match on the back of a vintage display which saw Kilkenny’s ten-time All-Ireland medallist register five points from play.
Red-hot Ballyhale hit 2-16 from play on an afternoon when midfielders Bob Aylward and Conor Walsh chipped in with 0-06 between them.
In what was a repeat of the 1984 All-Ireland final, which was won by Ballyhale after a replay, the end result was similar.
Noreside’s finest had too much class for a Gort side reliant on Richard Cummins for attacking inspiration.
Cummins netted a fourth-minute goal for Gort, but strikes from brothers TJ and Eoin Reid helped Ballyhale to a 2-09 to 1-08 half-time lead.
Gort opened with two points after half-time but that was the cue for Ballyhale to step on the gas and as the half wore on, they went on to establish a nine-point 2-17 to 1-11 lead.
Shefflin called the tune in a star-studded Ballyhale attack on a day when five of their six forwards were on the scoresheet.
And not to be outdone, Shefflin’s brother Paul also got in on the scoring act, registering a long-range point from the half-back line.
But it was Gort who got off to the better start, with 1-01 from Cummins establishing an early advantage.
Cummins, who claimed 1-03, bagged the opening goal of the game in the fourth minute, finishing a scuffed low effort to the net after good work by Paul Killilea.
That was a major early fillip for Gort shortly after goalkeeper Gavin Lally had denied Colin Fennelly with a point-blank save.
But Lally’s clean sheet was gone in the 11th minute when TJ Reid latched on to a wonderful flick from his brother Eoin to crack home an unstoppable drive in the top corner.
Three minutes later, it was Eoin on target, scrambling home a second Ballyhale goal to put some daylight between the sides.
Approaching half-time, a brace of Aylward points handed Ballyhale their biggest lead of the first half, 2-08 to 1-05.
Gerard Quinn’s 25th-minute free was Gort’s first score for eight minutes and another Quinn free in first-half stoppage time had the Galway men clinging onto Ballyhale’s coattails at the midway point.
A Gort comeback appeared on the cards when Gerard O’Donoghue and Cummins nailed points after half-time but Ballyhale’s response was emphatic, as they hit five without reply to gain a firm grip on proceedings.
Ballyhale’s victory sets up a St Patrick’s Day showdown with Kilmallock, who were comfortable winners against Portaferry in today’s other semi-final.
Ballyhale Shamrocks: R Reid; K Nolan, J Holden, A Cuddihy; P Shefflin (0-01), M Fennelly, A Cummins; B Aylward (0-03), C Walsh (0-03); J Fitzpatrick, H Shefflin (0-05), TJ Reid (1-02, 0-01f); P Reid (0-02), C Fennelly (0-01), E Reid (1-00).
Subs: R Corcoran for Cummins (37), B Cody for E Reid (56), M Dermody for P Shefflin (56), G Butler for Fitzpatrick (58)
Gort: G Lally; M McMahon, T Linnane, M Cummins; A Harte, G Lally (0-02, 1 65), S Linnane; S Forde, Jason Grealish (0-01); R Cummins (1-03), M Mullins (0-02, 1f), G O’Donoghue (0-02); A Mullins, G Quinn (0-02f), P Killilea (0-01)
Subs: Jack Grealish for Killilea (41), W Walsh (0-02) for Jason Grealish (43), C Helebert for Quinn (51), N Forde for S Forde (56), K Higgins for O’Donoghue (59)
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary)
