Ballyhale Shamrocks need extra time to dispatch rivals

Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 2-20 Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford) 1-21, Wexford Park (aet)

Seven days after winning their fourth successive Kilkenny SHC title, Ballyhale Shamrocks needed extra-time to see off a determined challenge from Oulart-the-Ballagh in today’s AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-final tie at Wexford Park.

The Wexford champions really put it up to Ballyhale, leading by 1-10 to 0-4 at one stage during a wind-assisted first half.

But Shamrocks recovered and with goals in each half from TJ Reid and a strong display in extra-time, Mick Fennelly’s charges pulled through to set up a home semi-final clash with Dublin champions Ballyboden on November 15.

Ballyhale’s comeback win completed a memorable few days for Henry Shefflin whose wife Deirdre gave birth to their new baby son on Friday. The legendary Kilkenny forward was also today voted the favourite hurler of the last 25 years in a nationwide poll run by TG4.

In a pacy and entertaining game, the assured free-taking of Nicky Kirwan steered Oulart in an early lead and Rory Jacob, Garrett ‘Snots’ Sinnott and Darren Nolan were also on target.

Using the strong wind to their advantage, the Wexford men continued to force the issue and Kirwan rasped home a 14th minute goal off his right, following a move started in midfield by Darren Stamp.

A shock result looked on the cards. Despite dropping an extra player back into their defence, Ballyhale leaked further points to Kirwan, John Roche, who drove over a monster free, Lar Prendergast and Michael Jacob.

But a lot of that good work was undone in the final minutes of the half when slack marking allowed Patrick and Eoin Reid tee up their brother TJ for his first goal. Shefflin added his fourth point of the half to reduce the arrears to 1-11 to 1-6 at half-time.

With the elements behind them in the second half, Ballyhale made it a three-point game with two further scores from Shefflin. But Oulart continued to press for points and successful efforts from Kirwan, Rory Jacob and Nolan steadied the home side.

Nonetheless, Ballyhale, with Aidan Cummins, captain Eamonn Walsh and Bob Aylward all starring in defence, launched a number of telling attacks midway through the half.

As Shefflin took his tally to seven, substitute Brendan Costello and Colin Fennelly helped themselves to a brace of points each and a quiet James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick was beginning to wield more influence.

The sides were suddenly level at 1-15 to 2-12 when Shefflin burst through the Oulart defence and laid off outside him for TJ Reid to blast home his second major.

Oulart did not go back into their shell, however, and Kirwan twice shot them ahead again before Eoin Reid sent the game into extra-time at 1-17 to 2-14.

Crucially, Oulart missed four scoring chances in the first period of extra-time, the most obvious coming when Rory Jacob ill-advisedly decided to go for goal from a close range free.

Ballyhale, using their experience and physical strength, bounded ahead by three points and further scores from Eoin Reid and David Hoyne saw them home.

Oulart did stage a late rally, which included a Rory Jacob point that just cleared the crossbar, but Fennelly's men had done enough to merit the win.