Ballyhale Shamrock 1-21 James Stephens 2-11
Ballyhale Shamrocks continue to pile up the records in Kilkenny. This time they completed the first five in-a-row in the senior hurling championship final when they out-gunned James Stephens by seven points in extraordinary fashion in UPMC Nowlan Park.
This fifth consecutive victory means Shamrocks, who were only founded 50 years ago, join Tullaroan at the top of the Roll of Honour with 20 senior championship wins.
Things looked bad when the defending champions were reduced to 14 men when midfielder, Paddy Mullen, was red carded in the 35th minute. Shamrocks simply took the setback in their stride.
They proceeded to produced a hurling show the likes of which is rarely seen. By the finish they had hit 'Stephens for 1-10 against 1-06. The losers goal only arrived in the 58th minute when ’Stephens would have needed a miracle to save the day.
All the big men responded to the SOS call for Shamrocks - TJ and Richie Reid, Adrian Mullen, Colin Fennelly and Eoin Cody, who were all magnificent, but not far behind were Darragh and Joey Corcoran, Evan Shefflin and Joey Holden.
This was a display of clever, determined hurling from Shamrocks, who dressed up the performance with a magnificent closing point from sub Niall Shortall, who threw a dummy hand-pass and beat three defenders before shooting the closing point from 50 metres on the left sideline in the 63rd minute.
At the time of the dismissal, James Stephens had scored a point through Andy Parsons to reduced the interval deficit to 1-06 to 0-11. Their first senior win since 2011 looked a real possibility.
Moments later one of their defenders was judged to have charged with the ball. Free. TJ Reid point. Shamrocks were off. The points flowed from Joey Cuddihy, after a great ball arrowed up the left wing by Richie Reid, Colin Fennelly, Evan Shefflin and company as Shamrocks used the ball smartly and with maximum impact.
With the rain lashed down, they kept the foot to the floor and more or less wrapped up the title in the 52nd minute. The elusive Niall Shortall worked a piece of magic to get in a cross from the left wing. Joey Cuddihy was on hand close to goal. His big finish shot Shamrocks 1-17 to 1-9 clear.
James Stephens were in big, big trouble. After their late, late goal sub Ross Whelan crashed a powerful shot against a Shamrocks upright, but they needed a score then, and several others, if they were to turn things.
The early exchanges were very cagey, and there was nothing between the teams. The scores were level twice during the opening 10 minutes. After Ronan Corcoran was placed for the lead point by Darragh Corcoran (0-03 to 0-02) in the 14th minute the first goal chance fell to Eoin Cody (S) who blasted wide.
Within seconds William Spencer levelled for 'Stephens, and it was all square again in the 20th minute at 0-04 each.
Within a minute the ball was in the Shamrocks net, Eoin Guilfoyle racing on to a breaking ball behind the defence and beating goalie, Dean Mason, in a 1-on-1 contest.
The Shamrocks response was sharp and vicious. They reeled off the next seven points as the team took up the challenge, but especially TJ and Richie Reid who drove on and inspired all around them.
TJ was majestic, his point in the 26th minute an exceptional effort after a blistering 40 metre run through the opposing defence.
James Stephens had the last score of the half, a pointed free from Niall Brassil, to leave the score at 0-11 to 1-05 in favour of Shamrocks at the break.
Early in the new half things appeared to turn in James Stephens favour when the champions had a man sent off. Shamrocks simply saw that as another challenge. Their deadly response was hard to credit.
Ballyhale Shamrocks: D Mason; B Butler, J Holden, D. Mullen; E. Shefflin (0-01), R. Reid, D. Corcoran (0-02); R Corcoran, P. Mullen; A. Mullen, T.J Reid (0-06, 3fs, 1 '65), E Cody (0-03); E Kenneally, C. Fennelly (0-03), J Cuddihy (1-02) .
Subs - N. Shortall (0-01) for E. Kenneally (46); K. Corcoran for J. Cuddihy (61).
James Stephens - G Costigan; L Murphy, D Cody, S Donoghue; N Delaney, C Kenny (0-01), N Mullins; W Spencer (0-01), C Browne (1-01); A Parsons (0-01), N Brassil (0-05, 3f), M Ruth; T O’Dwyer (0-02), E Guilfoyle (1-00), L Scanlon.
Subs - R Whelan for Ruth (48); D Hennessy for Parsons (54); E Butler for Scanlon (57).
Referee: C Everard (Graigue-Ballycallan).
