Clough/Ballacolla push Ballyhale to the brink in Leinster thriller
Clough/Ballacolla's Mark Hennessy gets away from this challenge Photo: Paul Dargan
Clough/Ballacolla travelled to the home of Kilkenny hurling, UPMC Nowlan Park, on Sunday afternoon to face the mighty Shamrocks Ballyhale AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship semi-final, where they hoped to put off a determined performance with all odds stacked firmly against them.
The sizeable crowd gathered in the famous venue created a tense atmosphere, one that only added to the scale of the challenge facing the Laois champions as they stepped into the lion’s den.
Shamrocks Ballyhale stand as the dominant force in this competition, having claimed an incredible 12 Leinster club titles, and they carried the weight of expectation once again. Despite this, Willie Hyland’s side would have been relatively content heading towards the break only four points down, particularly given they had hurled into a cold, wintery wind that made scoring difficult and ball control a real test for both teams.
TJ Reid, as he so often does, opened the scoring when he pointed from two placed balls in quick succession, settling his side. Stephen Bergin responded with a free of his own for Clough/Ballacolla, keeping them in touch. Evan Shefflin added to Ballyhale’s tally before another Reid free raised a third white flag, pushing the reigning champions three points ahead and giving them the early momentum.
However, Clough/Ballacolla showed tremendous character. They hunted in packs, harried every Ballyhale possession, and their reward came as they fired 1-2 past the Shamrocks defence in an inspired burst. Cillian Dunne landed a superb sideline cut that lifted his teammates and supporters alike, before Lochlainn Conway capitalised on a loose ball emerging from a ruck and buried it in the net. Bergin then converted a second free to put the Laois men two points up, a lead few had predicted after the sluggish opening.
Brian Cody and Bergin (free) exchanged scores before Ballyhale struck back with a major of their own. Niall Shorthall latched onto a long ball inside and shot past Cathal Dunne to raise the green flag, coming just five minutes after Clough/Ballacolla’s goal. The game was now wide open. Bergin pointed another placed ball while Lee Cleere produced a superb long-range effort from distance, edging Clough/Ballacolla ahead once more and giving them a psychological boost.
Shamrocks Ballyhale, though, began to reassert their authority as the half wore on. They dominated the next ten minutes, outscoring Clough/Ballacolla five points to one. Reid was impeccable from dead balls, pointing three further frees, while Ronan Corcoran added two excellent scores. Dunne managed a fine point in between for the Laois side, but Ballyhale’s pressure was unrelenting. Willie Dunphy then registered his first score and Clough/Ballacolla’s final of the half before Eoin Keneally and a Reid 65 pushed the Kilkenny outfit four ahead at the interval, 1-12 to 1-8.
The second half opened with another Bergin free, cutting the deficit to two, but Reid immediately responded with a free of his own. Clough/Ballacolla continued to show belief, narrowing the gap once more when Aidan Corby intercepted a Ballyhale puck-out and Bergin tapped over another free. What followed was an extraordinary 13-minute spell without a single score, during which Reid surprisingly squandered two straightforward chances to stretch the lead.
The introduction of Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher in the 49th minute lifted the Clough/Ballacolla supporters, who roared their approval. Eventually, Eoin Cody broke the drought, restoring a three-point cushion. Dunphy answered with an outstanding over-the-shoulder point, a moment of brilliance at a crucial time, before Reid again extended the gap from a free.
Clough/Ballacolla surged once more, drawing level as the clock hit 57 minutes. Dunphy struck two superb points, and Corby added another to send the contest to the wire. But Ballyhale showed their trademark composure in the dying minutes, hitting three late points to seal their place in the Leinster final. Darragh Corcoran, Eoin Cody, and TJ Reid with his first from play, ensured Henry Shefflin’s men crossed the finish line with daylight to spare.
TJ Reid 0-10 (0-8fs, 0-1 65), Niall Shorthall 1-0, Eoin Cody and Ronan Corcoran 0-2 each, Brian Cody, Evan Shefflin, Eoin Keneally and Darragh Corcoran 0-1 each.
Stephen Bergin 0-6 (fs), Willie Dunphy 0-4, Lochlainn Conway 1-0, Aidan Corby and Cillian Dunne 0-2 each, Lee Cleere 0-1.
Dean Mason; Killian Corcoran, Joey Holden, Brian Butler; Eoin Kenneally, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Evan Shefflin, Ronan Corcoran; John Fitzpatrick, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid; Liam Barron, Brian Cody, Niall Shortall.
Dara Mason for Butler (ht), Finnian Shefflin for Fitzpatrick (42m), and Conor Phelan for Barron (62m).
Cathal Dunne; Joseph Pearson, Darren Maher, Diarmaid Conway; Lochlainn Conway, Lee Cleere, Cormac Hogan; Aidan Corby, Kevin Mulhall; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan; Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Bergin.
Stephen Maher for L Conway (49m), Joe Corby for Mulhall (53m), Padraigh Brennan for Phelan (56m).
Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).
