Clough-Ballacolla heartbroken late on as Shamrocks Ballyhale finish with a flourish in Leinster SHC

Clough-Ballacolla’s heroic effort in Sunday’s Leinster Club SHC semi-final against Shamrocks Ballyhale just came up short as the Kilkenny side scraped past them.

The bookies had Shamrocks Ballyhale as hot favourites priced at 1/16 and the handicap set at -9, but to their credit, Clough-Ballacolla threw those odds out the window and almost upset the odds, but Shamrocks Ballyhale got three late points.

Willie Hyland's Clough-Ballacolla travelled to UPMC Nowlan Park looking to pull off a massive shock and get the better of Henry Shefflin's Shamrocks Ballyhale, with a place in the AIB Leinster Club SHC the reward for the winners. Shamrocks Ballyhale are the kingpins in this competition with 12 Leinster Club titles to their name.

Clough-Ballacolla hurled into a cold wintry wind in the first-half and would have been delighted at half-time as they only trailed by four points.

It was TJ Reid who got the first two scores of the game from placed balls. Stephen Bergin, who is set to collect his Laois GAA Club Senior Hurler of the Year next Friday, got Clough-Ballacolla's first point when he pointed a free after six minutes. Shamrocks Ballyhale got another two points, firstly from midfielder Evan Shefflin and then a third free from Reid went straight over the black spot.

Clough-Ballacolla hit a purple patch with 10 minutes played as they scored 1-2 unanswered. Cillian Dunne pointed an outrageous sideline cut and Bergin pointed a second free. It was Lochlainn Conway who scored their goal as he waited outside a ruck and made no mistake in firing the sliotar past Dean Mason.

Brian Cody and Bergin (free) traded scores before Shamrocks Ballyhale raised a green flag of their own. A long ball into the full-forward line fell kindly to Niall Shortall and he batted it past Cathal Dunne. A fourth free from the hurl of Bergin and a great score from Lee Cleere saw Clough-Ballacolla into a one-point lead after 18 minutes.

The Kilkenny champions then had a purple patch of their own as they hit four scores without reply. Reid pointed two frees while Ronan Corcoran scored two points from midfield. Dunne was proving a tricky customer to deal with at corner-forward as he added a second point to his name. Reid (free) and Willie Dunphy traded scores after Aidan Corby had a shot saved by Dean Mason. 

Shamrocks Ballyhale ended the half with scores from Eoin Kenneally and a Reid 65 after Darren Maher almost scored an own goal, but luckily for him and his side, it went out for a 65 instead. Shamrocks Ballyhale led 1-12 to 1-8 at the break, but Clough-Balllacolla were definitely where they would have wanted to be at half-time.

The second period began with a Bergin free as Clough-Ballacolla got back within two before Reid pointed a free down the other end. Clough-Ballacolla got it back to two points again when Aidan Corby won a Ballyhale puck-out before Bergin raised another white flag from a free. There was then a period of 13 minutes without a score and in that time, Reid missed two easy chances to increase his side's lead.

Stephen 'Picky' Maher was introduced in the 49th minute to a great roar from the large Clough-Ballacolla crowd. Eoin Cody finally broke that 13-minute spell without a score to put the margin back to three in favour of the Kilkenny side. Willie Dunphy stood up when his side needed it as he scored a superb point over his shoulder. Reid pointed a free in reply and the margin was back to three.

However, Clough-Ballacolla found another gear and got the game level with 57 minutes on the clock. Two splendid points from Dunphy along with a point from Aidan Corby put the game into the melting pot. The Kilkenny champions showed their true champion credentials as they finished with three points to secure their place in the Leinster final. Darragh Corcoran, Eoin Cody and a first point from play from TJ Reid saw Henry Shefflin's side over the line.

FULL-TIME

Shamrocks Ballyhale 1-18

Clough-Ballacolla 1-15

SCORERS— Shamrocks Ballyhale: TJ Reid 0-10 (0-8 frees, 0-1 65’), Niall Shorthall 1-0, Eoin Cody and Ronan Corcoran 0-2 each, Brian Cody, Evan Shefflin, Eoin Keneally, and Darragh Corcoran 0-1 each.
Clough-Ballacolla: Stephen Bergin 0-6 (frees), Willie Dunphy 0-4, Lochlainn Conway 1-0, Aidan Corby and Cillian Dunne 0-2 each, Lee Cleere 0-1.

CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Joseph Pearson, Darren Maher, Diarmaid Conway; Lochlainn Conway, Lee Cleere, Cormac Hogan; Aidan Corby, Kevin Mulhall; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan; Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Bergin. Subs: Stephen Maher for L Conway (49 mins), Joe Corby for Mulhall (53 mins), Padraigh Brennan for Phelan (56 mins)

SHAMROCKS BALLYHALE: Dean Mason; Killian Corcoran, Joey Holden, Brian Butler; Eoin Kenneally, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Evan Shefflin, Ronan Corcoran; John Fitzpatrick, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid; Liam Barron, Brian Cody, Niall Shortall. Subs: Dara Mason for Butler (HT), Finnian Shefflin for Fitzpatrick (42 mins), Conor Phelan for Barron (62 mins)

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)