Ballyhale Secures Thrilling Victory Over Clough Ballacolla to Reach Leinster Final
The Shamrocks Ballyhale secured a thrilling victory over Clough Ballacolla in the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship semi-final. The match took place at UPMC Nowlan Park, where Ballyhale triumphed with a final score of 1-18 to 1-15.
Key Moments of the Match
A late surge by Ballyhale, featuring points from Darragh Corcoran, TJ Reid, and Eoin Cody, ultimately clinched their win. Despite their spirited performance, Clough Ballacolla was unable to maintain their lead and fell short in the final moments.
Standout Performances
- Willie Dunphy scored four points from play, showcasing impressive skill.
- Cillian Dunne and Aidan Corby also delivered strong performances for Ballacolla.
- TJ Reid was instrumental for Ballyhale, contributing ten points, including nine from frees.
Match Progression
Ballyhale started strong, leading 0-4 to 0-1 in the early minutes. However, Clough Ballacolla quickly responded. Lochlainn Conway found the net, giving them a brief lead, while Stephen Bergin added two frees, putting Ballacolla ahead at 1-4 to 0-5.
In the 17th minute, Niall Shortall’s goal triggered a scoring spree for Ballyhale. They regained control, helped by two points from both Ronan Corcoran and TJ Reid. Yet, Clough Ballacolla remained competitive, with Dunne and Dunphy scoring crucial points.
Second Half Dynamics
The second half saw slower scoring, with just four points in the first twenty minutes. Ballyhale continued to hold a narrow lead despite a valiant effort from Clough Ballacolla, who leveled the score through two excellent points from Willie Dunphy and Aidan Corby.
With both teams vying for an upset, Dunphy missed a potential go-ahead opportunity. Ballyhale then capitalized on their experience to secure their place in the Leinster final against St Martin’s of Wexford.
Final Scorers
| Team | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Shamrocks Ballyhale | TJ Reid | 0-10 (9fs, 1 ’65) |
| Shamrocks Ballyhale | N Shortall | 1-0 |
| Shamrocks Ballyhale | E Cody | 0-2 |
| Clough Ballacolla | S Bergin | 0-6 (6fs) |
| Clough Ballacolla | W Dunphy | 0-4 |
| Clough Ballacolla | L Conway | 1-0 |
The Shamrocks now look forward to their Leinster final, needing to elevate their performance to reclaim the provincial title last won in 2022.
