Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-21 James Stephens 2-11
The wins keep stacking up for Ballyhale Shamrocks, but this one was as much about the losses as anything else.
They were beaten in the All-Ireland final against Ballygunner in cruel circumstances last February but that was insignificant in the context of what was to follow, with a number of club stalwarts having passed in the meantime.
Among them were Paul Shefflin, brother of Henry and a key member Ballyhale’s last dominant side prior to this one, former chairmen Bobby Aylward and Patrick Holden, father of full-back Joey, and Angela O’Sullivan, from the camogie club.
Going back over the years, Eugene Aylward and Eoin Doyle were another two clubmen who died tragically while in their prime, and securing a historic five-in-a-row in the context of what the community has endured was particularly poignant.
“It is massive,” said former Kilkenny star Colin Fennelly, one of the stars once again with 0-3 from full-forward.
“I know it happens to other places but I don’t think it ever happens as big as this when you just lose one after the other.
“It’s just tragedy after tragedy, not only the two young lads that passed away just a few years ago, but for this to happen this year again is absolutely heartbreaking.
“We had Henry in the dressing room talking on Friday night, Pat (Hoban, Ballyhale manager) and Henry would be very good friends.
“It was a big surprise for us, but just the emotion in Henry’s voice, there was just pure silence in the room and everyone walked out of there just ready, and the hunger there. He didn’t say anything about Paul, but you could see it. You could just see the emotion in him and the hunger that he’d love to be out there.”
Luckily for Ballyhale, as Henry Shefflin’s star was fading some years ago, TJ Reid’s was starting to sparkle. He delivered yet another sensational display to inspire this victory as Ballyhale’s resilience in the face of adversity on and off the field shone having played most of the second half with 14 men after Paddy Mullen’s red card.
Along with the 0-6 that he contributed, Reid provided a direct assist for another 0-4 and the highlight of the match was a stupendous second half catch made amid a thicket of bodies before crashing almost headlong to the ground. He then charged out with possession and won a free only to uncharacteristically drive it wide.
He came into his own approaching half-time after Ballyhale had suffered their first notable setback of the day as Eoin Guilfoyle latched onto a break off Luke Scanlon to net the opening goal for James Stephens in the 21st minute, giving them a 1-4 to 0-4 lead.
But over the subsequent 10 minutes, Ballyhale notched 0-7 without reply, three of them from Reid, who assisted another two.
Niall Brassil pointed a free for the Village to leave it 0-11 to 1-5 at the break but the momentum of the game was now very much with the Shamrocks, who had also butchered a number of goal openings to boot in the opening half hour.
Mullen was dismissed five minutes into the second half following a wild swing that caught Matthew Ruth but Brassil missed the subsequent free that would have brought James Stephens within a point and Ballyhale didn’t hang around.
They hit six of the next eight points and when Joey Cuddihy goaled in the 52nd minute it was all over. Conor Browne did reply with a goal for the challengers which was followed by a nervy few moments as sub Ross Whelan nearly added another, but the James Stephens were too far back in any event.
After the Ballygunner experience, Ballyhale were determined not to leave themselves vulnerable to another late sucker punch.
“At half-time today, that was mentioned,” said Reid. “We were three or four points up on Ballygunner with 20 minutes left. That was said today again.
“When we were three points up today, we drove on. If you leave any good team in the melting pot, anything can happen. The Village got a late goal there and could have had another one. In games like those, you have to be well ahead.
“Look, it will be fantastic if we get that far and meet Ballygunner again. It would be unbelievable. But for us obviously it’s Leinster now. I don’t actually know who we have. We’ll enjoy tonight.
“It’s been an amazing five years, a massive journey. This club has gone through an awful lot together in terms of hurt and losses and today was about ourselves and the family and the club. A massive day.
“We carried those names with us all year. The one word that we used this year was to dedicate. And so we aimed to dedicate this county final to those families. Because we’re after carrying that coffin through Ballyhale too many times.
“And it’s not a nice thing to be seeing. Today was about us being together as a group and seeing the families around us here gives us that bit of a lift.”
In the club’s golden jubilee year, becoming the first five-in-a-row winners in Kilkenny history as well as joining Tullaroan at the top of the roll of honour represents a decent afternoon’s work.
“They’re the first team in Kilkenny to do five-in-a-row,” said manager Hoban, “they’re the first Shamrocks team obviously to do five-in-a-row so that means a lot to them because, as the lads say themselves, they’ve grown up listening to the greats but, as I said, win this and they could be the greatest.”
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: Dean Mason; Brian Butler, Darren Mullen, Joey Holden; Evan Shefflin (0-1), Richie Reid (0-1), Darragh Corcoran (0-2); Ronan Corcoran (0-1), Paddy Mullen; Adrian Mullen (0-1), TJ Reid (0-6, 0-3f, 0-1 ‘65’), Eoin Kenneally; Eoin Cody (0-3), Colin Fennelly (0-3), Joey Cuddihy (1-2).
Subs: Luke Scanlon (0-1) for Kenneally (47), Killian Corcoran for Cuddihy (60+2).
JAMES STEPHENS: Gavin Costigan; Shane Donoghue, Diarmuid Cody, Luke Murphy; Niall Delaney, Cian Kenny (0-1), Niall Mullins; William Spencer (0-1), Conor Browne (1-1); Andy Parsons (0-1), Niall Brassil (0-5, 0-3f), Matthew Ruth; Tadhg O’Dwyer (0-2), Eoin Guilfoyle (1-0), Luke Scanlon.
Subs: Ross Whelan for Ruth (49), David Hennessy for Parsons (55), Ethan Butler for Scanlon (58).
REFEREE: Conor Everard (Graigue-Ballycallan).
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