The Harps' historic season ends with defeat to Kilkenny champions Ballyhale Shamrocks

The Harps have seen their debut AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship campaign end at the first hurdle, but it certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying, as they put up a fight to Kilkenny champions Ballyhale Shamrocks in Sunday’s quarter-final.

Three weeks after they lifted their first-ever Bob O’Keeffe Cup, The Harps welcomed Ballyhale Shamrocks to Portlaoise. The game got off to a great start and although there were no scores for the first three minutes, there was plenty of hard-hitting with both sides having chances to open their accounts. It was the Kilkenny champions Ballyhale Shamrocks who struck first as recent inter-county retiree TJ Reid pointed a free. James Duggan got on a lot of ball in the first few minutes and he was the one to set up The Harps’ first point when he handed the ball off to Ross Deegan.

The Codys, Brian and Eoin, scored a point each to put Ballyhale two ahead after nine minutes. Brian Cody had a shot on goal blocked by Cody Comerford, a shot that looked destined to find the back of the net.

The Harps took over for the next while and scored three points in a row to go ahead for the first time. Ciaran Comerford pointed a free, while Eoin Delaney got their third point after superb hassling from Padraig Dunne and Deegan. James Duggan made it four points to three with 16 minutes on the clock. Niall Shortall levelled the sides, but The Harps responded almost immediately to go ahead again thanks to a Comerford free.

By the time The Harps scored again, Ballyhale Shamrocks rattled in 2-2 in the space of three minutes to pull clear approaching half-time. The first Ballyhale Shamrocks came from a penalty after TJ Reid was fouled by Cody Comerford in the square. Reid stepped up and smashed the penalty past Bobby Murphy. Killian Corcoran and Jake Mullen scored a point each before Darragh Corcoran was given the freedom of Laois Hire O’Moore Park to get their second goal after a superb pass by Reid played him clean through on goal.

The half ended with the sides scoring two more points apiece. Comerford slotted over two frees, while TJ Reid (free) and Eoin Cody split the posts for the away side. Eoin Delaney had a goal chance to get The Harps back into the game, but his shot was saved by Dean Mason. Ballyhale Shamrocks led 2-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

The Harps came out after the break and got the first two scores courtesy of Eoghan Murphy. His first was an excellent 65 on the sideline. Ballyhale Shamrocks went seven points up thanks to two points from TJ Reid with a Niall Shortall point sandwiched in between.

The Harps found another gear and got back to within a goal of Ballyhale thanks to a goal from Mark Downey and then points from Justin Duggan and Comerford. Any hope they had of a comeback was dashed a minute later when Reid caught a high ball in and gave it to Eoin Cody, who gave it to Brian Cody and he stuck it into the net. The goalscorer added a point to his name shortly after as their lead went back to seven points.

Ross Deegan and Brian Cody swapped scores with Comerford pointing a free for the Laois SHC champions. Ballyhale Shamrocks tagged on another three points courtesy of Ronan Corcoran (two) and TJ Reid. With the result now known, The Harps scored three more points to finish with 1-16. Justin Duggan, John Brophy and Ross Deegan were the point scorers.

The margin at the full-time whistle was nine as Ballyhale Shamrocks fired over three more scores of their own all from frees. It brings to an end a 2026 season that saw The Harps crowned Laois SHC champions for the very first time.

FINAL SCORE

Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-19

The Haros 1-16

SCORERS- Ballyhale Shamrocks: TJ Reid 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees), Brian Cody 1-3, Darragh Corcoran 1-0, Eoin Cody, Ronan Corcoran and Niall Shortall 0-2 each, Killian Corcoran and Jake Mullen 0-1 each. The Harps: Ciaran Comerford 0-6 (0-5 frees), Ross Deegan 0-3, Mark Downey 1-0, Eoghan Murphy (0-1 65) and Justin Duggan 0-2 each, Eoin Delaney, James Duggan and John Brophy 0-1 each.

THE HARPS: Bobby Murphy; Eoghan Doheny, Cody Comerford, Jack Kennedy; Ciaran Flynn, Podge Delaney, Eoghan Murphy; Rian Edwards, Padraic Dunne; Ross Deegan, Ciaran Comerford, Eoin Delaney; Justin Duggan, Mark Downey, James Duggan. Subs: John Brophy for E Delaney (38 mins), Tiarnach Doheny for Edwards (50 mins), Donal Deegan for Flynn (54 mins), Cathal Murphy for Justin Duggan and Danny Comerford for Downey (Both 56 mins)

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: Dean Mason; Killian Ryan, Joey Holden, Killian Corcoran; Evan Shefflin, Darragh Corcoran, Richie Reid; Ronan Corcoran, Liam Barron; Brian Cody, Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen; Jake Mullen, TJ Reid, Niall Shortall. Subs: Brian Butler for Shefflin (6 mins, inj), Cathal Coogan for Barron (37 mins), Michael Barron for J Mullen (53 mins), Larry Cody for R Corcoran and John Fitzpatrick for Brian Cody (Both 56 mins)

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)