Brilliant Ballyhale claim sixth club title

AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship: Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-18 Kilmallock 1-6

By Brian Murphy at Croke Park

Ballyhale Shamrocks underlined their status as the greatest club team ever by securing their sixth All-Ireland title with a dominant display against Kilmallock at Croke Park.

The Kilkenny champions have now moved two clear of Birr and Portumna at the top of the roll of honour, claiming the Tommy Moore Cup for the third time since 2007.

Having won three All-Ireland titles in 1981, 1984 and 1990, the current generation, led by inspirational 36-year-olds Henry Shefflin and Bob Aylward, have now matched the achievements of their predecessors, winning three All-Ireland titles in an eight-year spell.

Captain TJ Reid led Ballyhale by example, hitting six points but it was Kilkenny team-mate Joey Holden who stood out with a superb performance in the full-back line, where he neutralised Kilmallock's aerial threat and forced the Limerick side to rethink their tactical approach.

Kilmallock defended well in the opening stages but they were less efficient in their use of the ball. The Limerick champions' clear tactic was to hit their full-forward line as early as possible and Graeme Mulcahy was causing problems when he did manage to pick up a few breaks, and very nearly opened the scoring when he found a gap but shot straight at Ballyhale goalkeeper Richie Reid. Minutes earlier, Mulcahy's younger brother, Jake, did find the back of the net with a hit and hope shot from way out, but it was disallowed for square ball.

With TJ Reid orchestrating their play from wing-forward, Ballyhale hit four points in a row to lead by 0-4 to 0-1 after 14 minutes, Henry Shefflin popping over a score after switching to the edge of the square. However, the Kilkenny champions should have been further ahead but struck four poor wides in the opening quarter.

Kilmallock hit back with two successive scores, Robbie Egan and Eoin Ryan adding to Paudie O'Brien's opening point after just 20 seconds. Kilmallock's tactic of hitting big full-forward Kieran Kenneally with long, hopeful balls wasn't working, though, and he was replaced by Paddy O'Loughlin after 25 minutes.

Ballyhale's play was much more subtle, their movement far greater in attack, and scores from Colin Fennelly and Eoin Reid had them 0-6 to 0-3 ahead before Limerick star Graeme Mulcahy finally found some room and fired over a fine shot from a tight angle in response for Kilmallock.

For all Ballyhale's intricate patterns and neat passing, they made their big breakthrough with a very direct piece of play. Colin Fennelly swept up a breaking ball from a booming clearance and broke the last line of the Kilmallock defence before unleashing a crack shot into the top corner of Barry Hennessy's goal.

TJ Reid then added another free for Ballyhale just before the break and their lead was out to six points, 1-7 to 0-4, at half-time. Graeme Mulcahy endured a frustrating first half in the Kilmallock attack and his final act was to send yet another shot wide from a tight angle, the Limerick champions' 10th wide of the opening half hour.

Ballyhale started the second half as they finished the first, moving further clear following scores from Henry Shefflin and Mark Aylward, who came in as a half-time sub for Patrick Reid. Eoin Reid clipped over his third of the day from play and Ballyhale were nine points clear with 39 minutes played.

Kilmallock finally mustered a response through an Eoin Ryan free, but TJ Reid, who had a fine game in a play-making role, reasserted his side's dominance with a pair of quickfire frees and then a classy score on 50 minutes, his first of the day from play.

Ballyhale added to their lead before Kilmallock did finally get the goal their play deserved, sub Robbie Hanley taking a pass from Eoin Ryan before lashing a drive past Richie Reid.

However, it was to be Ballyhale's day and they eased to a 12-point win, and TJ Reid became the sixth man from the famous Kilkenny club to lift the Tommy Moore Cup.

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Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 0-6 (0-4f), C Fennelly 1-3, E Reid 0-3, H Shefflin 0-2, M Aylward 0-2, A Cuddihy 0-1, B Aylward 0-1.

Scorers for Kilmallock: E Ryan 0-3 (0-3f), R Hanley 1-0, P O'Brien 0-1, R Egan 0-1, G Mulcahy 0-1.

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS (Kilkenny): Richie Reid; Keith Nolan, Joey Holden, Alan Cuddihy; Paul Shefflin, Michael Fennelly, Aidan Cummins; Conor Walsh, Bob Aylward; James Fitzpatrick, Henry Shefflin, TJ Reid (capt.); Patrick Reid, Colin Fennelly, Eoin Reid. Subs: Mark Aylward for P Reid (HT), Tom Coogan for K Nolan (58), David Hoyne for C Walsh (59), Michael Dermody for P Shefflin (60).

KILMALLOCK (Limerick): Barry Hennessy; Liam Hurley, Mark O'Loughlin, Aaron Costello; Liam Walsh, Philip O'Loughlin, Kevin O'Donnell; Bryan O'Sullivan, Paudie O'Brien; Jake Mulcahy, Gavin O'Mahony, Robbie Egan; Graeme Mulcahy (capt.), Kieran Kenneally, Eoin Ryan. Subs: Paddy O'Loughlin for K Kenneally (25 mins), Robbie Hanley for R Egan (45), Conor Barry for B O'Sullivan (57).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

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