Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 0-25 Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly) 1-18
The high kings of Leinster hurling, Ballyhale Shamrocks, put a challenging first half behind them before finding their top gear and driving into the Leinster club senior semi-final.
Shamrocks turned an interval deficit of three points into a four-point victory after the likes of TJ Reid, who finished with 12 scores, Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody and company hit the scoring trail to see off a brave Kilcormac Killoughey side.
The losers' pace and inventive play during the opening half had Shamrocks, who are chasing a 13th title in Leinster, in some difficulty. However, after Eoin Cody clipped over a point for the winners within 30 seconds of the resumption, there was no holding the Noresiders.
While there was nothing unruly or unsavoury during the game, there was a scuffle on the sideline at the Grace Stand side after the final whistle when it appeared at least one supporter got involved. Things were brought under control quickly and the referee didn’t appear to flash any cards.
That Cody point mentioned early was followed by one from the influential Paddy Mullen before the opposition missed a handy chance from a close in free. TJ Reid picked off the equaliser in the 38th minute (0-13 to 1-10) before a like score via the same route really got Shamrocks into the groove.
Ronan Corcoran and Adam Screeney (free) traded minor scores before Shamrocks had three in a row from Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen again to take a firm grip on proceedings. They opened up a lead of 0-18 to 1-11 by the 44th minute.
That was all achieved without shooting a wide in the half up to that. Once they had control of proceedings, Shamrocks simply hurled their way to victory.
On a dry and calm day, the hurling during the first half was open and entertaining, although both sides left a fair few scores behind them, having shared equally in 14 wides by the break. However, Kilcormac had an edge in pace and in terms of opportunities created they held the edge.
Six times in all the scores were level as both sides probed for a big opening that might lead to a goal. There were three opportunities created, two by the visitors, before the green flag was waved in the 25th minute.
The lively Adam Screeney took the honours, crashing home a penalty after the referee called a foul when a defender held the hurley of Conor Mahon in the square. His rifled goal sent Kilcormac 1-08 to 0-7 in front.
Back-to-back points from Eoin Cody and TJ Reid (free) brought Shamrocks right back into the picture, but they lost ground again before the rest was called via points from Kilcormac goalie Conor Slevin, his second long-range effort of the half, and James Gorman to see them lead by 1-10 to 0-10 at the rest.
The visitors fans must have been wondering what might have been had James Gorman not been deprived of a goal by a sensational body block by full-back Joey Holden in the 18th minute and ’keeper Dean Mason then deprived Charlie Mitchell on 23 minutes.
Shamrocks went close to goaling in the 20th minute when goalie Slevin brought off a great stop from Eoin Cody but made Kilcormac-Killoughey pay for some wasted opportunities after that.
In two weeks' time, Ballyhale will face Laois' Clough-Ballacolla, who edged Westmeath champions Castletown-Geoghegan.
Ballyhale Shamrocks: D. Mason; K. Corcoran, J. Holden, B.Butler; P. Mullen (0-02), R. Reid, E. Shefflin; E. Kenneally (0-01), R. Corcoran (0-01); A. Mullen (0-03), E. Cody (0-05), T.J. Reid (0-12, 11 frees), L. Barron, B. Cody, N. Shortall (0-01).
Subs: D. Mason for B. Butler 42nd min; J. Fitzpatrick for B. Cody 53rd min; F. Shefflin for P. Mullen 58th min; C. Walsh for L. Barron 60th min.
Kilcormac/Killoughey: C. Slevin (0-04, frees); T. Spain, J. Quinn, J. Mahon; B. Kavanagh, C. Kiely, E. Grogan; C. Spain, D. Kilmartin; J. Screeney (0-01), C. Mahon (0-01), D. Hand (0-01); C. Mitchell (0-03), J. Gorman (0-01), A. Screeney (1-5, goal penalty, three frees).
Subs: A. Kavanagh for J. Gorman 38th min; T. Guinan for D. Kilmartin 48th min; L. Kavanagh (0-01) for D.Hand 54th min; T. Geraghty (0-01) for C. Mahon 58th min; P. Geraghty for C. Spain 60th min.
Referee: P. Dunne (Laois)
