Champions Ballyhale avert shock as they finally hit top gear
However, far from giving the underdogs the boost they’d need to drive on, it seemed to leave them transfixed, while the champions suddenly became transformed.
Where heretofore Ballyhale had appeared lethargic, now they came alive. Inspired by the Reid brothers TJ and Eoin up front, with county stars Cha Fitzpatrick and Henry Shefflin displaying their unquestionable class, Michael Fennelly heroic, a dominant defence anchored by Eamonn Walsh and Aidan Cummins, they went on the rampage.
Eight points in 14 lethal minutes, Henry with four, Colin Fennelly, Brendan Costelloe and the Reid brothers with the others, then the goal sandwiched between Carrickshock’s last two points — before the final, emphatic blast, another five unanswered points.
Perhaps the seeds for the mid-game lethargy were sown in the opening minutes. Looking lean, hungry, Ballyhale hit the ground running, were 0-2 to 0-0 ahead inside two minutes, courtesy of strikes from Henry and Eoin Reid.
Then came a long period of sterility, 10 minutes before the next score, the opener from Carrickshock per their own county star, Richie Power. They should have scored earlier, a golden opportunity missed by corner-forward James Moran when he stumbled on the break of a body-block made by Shamrocks’ keeper James Connolly off Jamie Power, the ball drifting harmlessly wide of the gaping goal.
After the Power point, however, Ballyhale were instantly back in the groove, and points from Henry (3), Colin Fennelly and the tireless Eoin Reid, sandwiched around another Power placed ball point, had them comfortably ahead in the 21st minute, 0-7 to 0-2.
Perhaps too comfortably, because in the final minutes of that half they seemed to doze off and for the first time in this game Carrickshock took over.
Richie Power started it, his third point but first from play, then it was county colleague Michael Rice (well policed by Michael Dermody) on the board, followed by Richie Power again, brother Shane from midfield, then Mark O’Dwyer, making it a most unlikely draw at the break, 0-7 apiece.
That O’Dwyer point, by the way, was the only score of the game conceded by the Shamrocks’ full-back line, Paul Shefflin and Pádraig Holden superb forming a superb unit each side of Eamonn Walsh.
Even after that run, however, few would have taken Carrickshock to go on and win this one.
They did take the lead two minutes after the resumption, yet another Richie Power free (he finished with eight points, seven from placed balls), instantly negated by an Eoin Reid blast, then had the audacity to go back in front a couple of minutes later.
That was it, however, the wake-up call Ballyhale had so badly needed. Thirteen points they managed in the final 23 minutes, to Carrickshock’s two, and of course the goal; Eoin Reid and Henry combined before the latter put in a dangerous centre, broken down by sub Mark Aylward. On hand to drive home, TJ Reid. Convincing win, still on track. It will take a hell of a team to stop them.
Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: H. Shefflin 0-10 (0-4 frees); TJ Reid 1-3; E. Reid 0-4; C. Fennelly 0-3; B. Costelloe 0-1.
Carrickshock: R. Power 0-8 (0-4 frees, 0-2 65’s); M. O’Dwyer, M. Rice, S. Power, 0-1 each.
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J. Connolly; P. Shefflin, E. Walsh, P. Holden; M. Dermody, A. Cummins, B. Aylward (c); J. Fitzpatrick, M. Fennelly; H. Shefflin, C. Fennelly, TJ Reid; D. Hoyne, E. Reid, B. Costelloe.
Subs: M. Aylward (Hoyne 46); A. Cuddihy (Dermody 55). Blood sub: A. Cuddihy (M. Fennelly 6/7, 29/30).
CARRICKSHOCK: J. Butler; D. Franks, J. Murphy, L. Gaule; N. Tennyson, J. Tennyson, P. Tennyson; S. Power, J. Power; M. Rohan (c), R. Power, M. Rice; M. O’Dwyer, J. Moran, Jamie Power.
Subs: P. Barron (S. Power 46); N. Rohan (Moran 48).
Referee: E. Mansfield (Cloneen/Railyard).
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