Watch and read: Success-laden pair Ballyhale and Tullaroan set up final Kilkenny SHC final meeting 

The Kilkenny senior hurling championship final will be contested between the county's two most successful clubs when Shamrocks Ballyhale and Tullaroan meet in a fortnight's time after the duo overcame Thomastown and Bennettsbridge respectively in the semi-finals at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first time since 2018 that there was no side from Kilkenny city in the final four but there was no little drama with both games decided by only a puck of the ball.

The Shamrocks and Thomastown tie was well billed as it was a meeting of the 2024 and 2025 champions but it never really lived up to expectations as the defending champions hung on to win by two points on a 1-18 to 1-16 final scoreline.

A John Donnelly effort in the 57th minute looked to have Thomastown on the road to victory but before they could even think, Niall Shortall did likewise down the other end for the Ballyhale club.

As a result, the Shamrocks led by a point going into the three minutes of added on time and while Stephen Donnelly briefly got Noel Doherty’s team back on level terms, the Ballyhale club found a way to win as they tend to do more often than not with TJ Reid and Niall Shortall knocking over the insurance scores.

It was point for point all the way till the 21st minute when a trio of scores by Daithi Barron, Robbie Donnelly and John Donnelly gave Thomastown an 0-8 to 0-5 advantage on the scoreboard.

Shamrocks hit back with scores from TJ Reid, Cathal Coogan and Adrian Mullen but Thomastown still held the initiative as they led by two at the half-time interval.

The defending champions immediately wiped out the two-point half-time deficit through scores from TJ and Eoin Cody but Thomastown were revelling in the battle and with Daithi Barron and Robbie Donnelly on target once more, they led 0-14 to 0-12 at the halfway mark of the half.

Shamrocks then went into overdrive though with four on the spin via TJ, Eoin Cody, Liam Barron and Adrian Mullen, making it a two-point advantage in their favour.

Then followed the mad ending to the game with the two goals but as hard as Thomastown tried, they couldn’t find a way through as the Shamrocks won out.

The earlier semi-final was a real novel pairing with Tullaroan and Bennettsbridge locking horns and while it got tight at the end, Tullaroan were worthy winners on a final 1-20 to 2-14 scoreline as they qualified for a first county decider since 1994.

A first-half Gearoid Dunne goal as well as big displays from Mossy Keoghan, Dylan Simpson and Shane Walsh meant Tullaroan led by seven points at one stage of the second half but helped by a tour de force display at full forward by Liam Blanchfield, the Bridge worked their way within a puck of the ball come the final whistle.

Blanchfield’s double of goals as well as being fouled twice more near the square, would have brought back bad memories for Tullaroan after two losses to the Bridge in the previous years and while they showed their nerves near the end, David Mulchahy’s team will have been relieved to see the game out.

From the moment Mossy Keoghan pointed within 15 seconds of the start, Tullaroan were very much in control and they led 0-9 to 0-4 at the end of the first quarter with Shane Walsh landing four frees in addition to efforts via Bill Gaffney, Dylan Simpson and Gearoid Dunne.

The Bridge then got a lifeline when Liam Blanchfield goaled in the 20th minute after grabbing a dropping Alex O’Farrell free before blasting past Niall Holland in the Tullaroan goal.

The respite for Bennettsbridge didn’t last too long with Gearoid Dunne scoring a goal for himself three minutes before half-time and with a 1-13 to 1-8 interval advantage, they looked firmly in control.

Points from Shane Walsh, Dylan Simpson and Bill Gaffney quickly pushed the lead out to seven but from here, the Bridge threw off the shackles and planted numerous direct balls in the direction of Liam Blanchfield and it worked a treat when the big full forward grabbed his second goal and Tullaroan were largely living on their nerves for the following 10 minutes.

Shane Walsh and Dylan Simpson kept the winners tapping away at the scoreboard though, as they held on to win by three in the end.

All footage courtesy of Clubber TV.