Shamrocks leagues apart

IT was something of a phoney war in that both sides were keeping a little in reserve for the championship, but Ballyhale Shamrocks picked up their first title of the year when winning the senior hurling league final against James Stephens on Saturday.

The Ballyhale boys were without their main man and eight-times All-Ireland medal winner Henry Shefflin but they were still good enough to claim a 2-13 to 1-10 victory.

Stephens were without Matthew Ruth, Donnacha Cody and Tomas Kehoe but they rarely matched their opponents for pace, power or sharp hurling.