GAA Talking Points: Ballyhale simply refused to revisit the nightmare

The word on the ground from as far back as when the Kilkenny championship began over the summer was that Ballyhale only wanted to meet one team

DRIVEN: Ballyhale’s TJ Reid celebrates after the All-Ireland SHC club semi-final against Ballygunner at Croke Park. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile 

Ballyhale just say no 

When Philip Mahony’s final desperate last ball dropped on the D in the fourth minute of additional time, Ballyhale Shamrocks had eight players within ten metres of it as soon as the sliotar hit the deck before Adrian Mullen smuggled it clear. Over ten months on from Ballygunner’s smash and grab with the last play of the 2022 All-Ireland final, Ballyhale Shamrocks were determined to ensure the nightmare was not going to be revisited.