Heroic Harps push Ballyhale all the way in Leinster debut
Justin Duggan (Harps) playing for a score as Killian Ryan (Shamrocks Ballyhale) attempts to block in the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday Photo: Denis Byrne
THE Harps made a valiant effort in their first appearance in the Leinster Club SHC with the visit of club hurling giants Ballyhale Shamrocks to Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday, who won out by nine points in the end.
TJ Reid led the way for the Kilkenny champions with a scintillating display at full-forward, scoring just two points from play but winning a serious amount of ball and winning a penalty in the first half which he duly dispatched.
It was always going to be a huge test for the Laois champions but they stuck to the task diligently and to their credit, a nine point win feels like it flattered Ballyhale Shamrocks in some ways.
Podge Delaney was solid as ever at centre back against a star studded Ballyhale forward line while The Harps forwards got their own bit of joy against their men with Ross Deegan and Justin Duggan proving very lively.
The Harps arguably had the better of the play in the opening twenty minutes of the game and held a one point lead at that stage but in the space of four minutes they were hit for 2-2, with Reid playing the starring role in that period to turn the game on its head.
Ken Hogan's men fought their way back into contention in the second half with 1-2 in the space of two minutes to cut the gap back to three points, but the experience and class of Ballyhale Shamrocks shone through again as Brian Cody found the net and added two points to take the game out of the host's grasp once more.
The brilliant TJ Reid opened the scoring in the game with a free before Ross Deegan got the game's first score from play to level in the fourth minute.
The Harps needed to avoid an early onslaught from the Kilkenny champions and they succeeded in that by replying to scores from Eoin Cody and Brian Cuddy with three in a row from Ciaran Comerford, Eoin Delaney and James Duggan.
Cody Comerford was called into action on his goal line during that period to block a shot from Brian Cody, and the hosts led by a point at the midway stage of the half, with both sides guilty of handling errors and poor strikes at goal.
Niall Shortall and Ciaran Comerford traded points moments before disaster struck when TJ Reid caught his first high ball of the afternoon and drew a foul for a penalty from Cody Comerford and Reid stitched it in the net.
On his first appearance since his retirement from the intercounty scene Reid wowed the crowd in the stands with an scarcely believable flick behind his back to Darragh Corcoran who was bounding down on goal and the centre back netted their second from close range.
Points from Killian Corcoran and Jake Mullen brought the Ballyhale lead out to seven points after a crushing four minutes of hurling for The Harps, undoing all the good work put in early on.
Ciaran Comerford got them back on line with a couple of frees but his efforts were cancelled out by Reid and Eoin Cody points, with Cody's coming off the back of a quick break off a Dean Mason save from a shot by Eoin Delaney destined for the top corner.
Despite a huge amount of effort and dogged work put in by The Harps in the first half they trailed 2-8 to 0-7 at half time.
Eoghan Murphy gave The Harps a huge lift early in the second half with a pointed 65 from right under the stand and followed it with a monster score from play in midfield.
Service resumed for the visitors with a quick trio of points in reply, one each from play by Reid and Niall Shortall and a free from Reid.
The Harps continued to refuse to lay down as Mark Downey eventually found the net from close range after efforts from Justin and James Duggan were stifled by the Ballyhale backs.
Justin Duggan followed with a great score from the left wing and Comerford cut the gap to three with a point from play, drawing a huge roar from the home support who began to believe again.
That belief took a major hit when again TJ Reid latched onto a high ball and played it inside to Eoin Cody to passed on to Brian Cody to raise their third green flag with a powering finish.
Brian Cody added two more points from awkward angles, though The Harps drew replies from Ross Deegan and Comerford.
Despite the replies, the wheel was really beginning to turn in favour of the Kilkenny men with Ronan Corcoran slotting twice and Reid adding his second from play under serious pressure.
Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6fs), Brian Cody 1-3, Eoin Cody, Ronan Corcoran and Niall Shortall 0-2, Killian Corcoran and Jake Mullen 0-1 each.
The Harps: Ciaran Comerford 0-6 (0-5fs), Mark Downey 1-0, Ross Deegan 0-3, Eoghan Murphy (0-1 65) and Justin Duggan 0-2 each, Eoin Delaney, James Duggan and John Brophy 0-1 each.
Dean Mason, Killian Ryan, Joey Holden, Killian Corcoran; Evan Shefflin, Darragh Corcoran, Richie Reid; Ronan Corcoran, Liam Barron; Brian Cody, Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen; Jake Mullen, TJ Reid, Niall Shortall.
Subs: Brian Butler for Shefflin (6m, inj), Cathal Coogan for Barron (37m), Michael Barren for J Mullen (53m), Larry Cody for R Corcoran (56m), John Fitzpatrick for B Cody (56m).
Bobby Murphy; Eoghan Doheny, Cody Comerford, Jack Kennedy; Ciaran Flynn, Podge Delaney, Eoghan Murphy; Rian Edwards, Padraic Dunne; Ross Deegan, Ciaran Comerford, Mark Downey; Justin Duggan, Eoin Delaney, James Duggan.
Subs: John Brophy for Delaney (38m), Tiarnach Doheny for Edwards (50m), Donal Deegan for Flynn (54m), Danny Comerford for Downey (56m), Cathal Murphy for Justin Duggan (56m).
Adam Kinihan (Offaly)
