Ballyhale and O’Loughlins prevail in Kilkenny but not without drama

The narrow margin of both Kilkenny semi-final wins may have come as a bit of a surprise.

TJ Reid of Ballyhale Shamrocks. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The Kilkenny SHC final will be contested by Ballyhale Shamrocks and O’Loughlin Gaels for the third time in the last five years, but the narrow margin of both of their semi-final wins may have come as a bit of a surprise.

Shamrocks showed all their old battling qualities as they claimed a two-point win over Dicksboro despite having Paddy Mullen sent off in the opening half. While O’Loughlin Gaels were also pushed to the pin of their collar as they held off a fast finishing Mullinavat to prevail by the minimum.

The first of the semi-finals saw O’Loughlin Gaels start as warm favourites against Mullinavat and while on top for most of the 1-20 to 2-16 success, they were certainly made to sweat late on.

An opening half penalty from former Kilkenny underage star John Walsh gave Mullinavat an early buffer but with Owen Wall making use of a lot of space in front of him to net a goal in reply just two minutes later, O’Loughlin Gaels soon took control.

O'Loughlin's gradually took control through points from Mark Bergin, Luke Hogan and Conor Kelly and while John Walsh, Joe Gahan and Ger Malone kept Mullinavat in touch, further efforts from Hogan and Jordan Molloy left five points between them at the break.

It was point for point throughout the third quarter with John Walsh's excellence largely keeping Mullinavat in touch, while O'Loughlin's kept the scoreboard ticking over through Mark Bergin, Fionan Mackessy and Jack Nolan.

Mullinavat were never out of the game and a goalmouth scramble that resulted in Ger Malone having a shot blocked near the line was a sign of things to come. Not long afterwards, Mick Malone somehow kicked the ball to the net at the city end of Nowlan Park.

Mullinavat were then rocked by a straight red card to George O'Connor but they were still within a puck of the ball when Adam Mansfield pointed in stoppage time.

John Walsh then pointed when going for goal with a last-gasp 21-yard free and that was the last action as O'Loughlin's booked their place in the final but only just.

The second semi-final was just as dramatic with Shamrocks running out 0-21 to 1-16 victors in another entertaining affair.

A first half red card to Paddy Mullen meant Shamrocks played for over half an hour with a player less but that was only the beginning of the drama with Dean Mason forced to make a last-gasp double save from Cillian Hackett and Cillian Buckley late on.

Dicksboro made the better start and were quickly into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after points from Cillian Hackett, Shane Stapleton, and Matthew Kelleher.

The Ballyhale outfit soon found their scoring groove however with points from TJ, Brian Cody, Niall Shortall and Adrian Mullen meaning they led 0-7 to 0-5 by the 20th minute.

Back to back scores from Cillian Hackett and Kevin Moore kept the Boro at it before a Liam Moore goal in the 25th minute saw the Kilkenny city side retake the advantage.

Shamrocks then suffered the blow of Paddy Mullen receiving a straight red card but initially it didn't overly dismay the side in green and white with points from Eoin Cody and TJ Reid levelling up matters at the interval.

The introduction of Patrick Lacey off the bench really changed the game for Dicksboro as the minor star scored four points, including two cracking efforts from play.

The Boro got back level as a result but with TJ landing two frees and Adrian Mullen knocking over a fourth score from play, the Shamrocks looked like they'd done enough as they opened up a 0-21 to 1-16 lead.

Dicksboro then threw everything but the kitchen sink at it in the last few minutes but somehow the Shamrocks stood tall to secure the county final berth.