Ballyhale Shamrocks remain on course for a historic All-Ireland three-in-a-row after TJ Reid stole a sensational semi-final victory for them over St Thomas’s.
With his side trailing by two points in the fourth minute of injury time, Reid fired a bullet free, at an angle to the posts and from some 23 metres, through a phalanx of bodies and all the way to the Thomas’s net.
The Kilkenny legend had drawn Ballyhale level with a penalty only minutes earlier but two Conor Cooney frees looked to have sealed the victory for the Galway champions, who led for the majority of the game.
The result sets up a final meeting with Waterford’s Ballygunner as Ballyhale look to become the first club to win the Tommy Moore Cup three years running.
After suffering a humiliating 17-point defeat when the clubs met in the 2019 final, St Thomas’s started in determined fashion and, after avoiding the concession of a goal within seconds of the throw-in as Eoin Cody was denied, swiftly moved four points clear with Eanna Burke showing well.
It took Ballyhale 10 minutes to settle but a pair of points each by Cody and Joseph Cuddihy saw them draw level by the 14th minute and after Bernard Burke replied for Thomas’s, the holders went in front for the first time with Adrian Mullen and Cody pointing as TJ Reid’s influence began to increase.
Having moved a point clear again, Thomas’s missed an opportunity to establish daylight as Eanna Burke saw a glorious goal opportunity saved by Dean Mason after 20 minutes and by half-time they led by 0-13 to 0-11.
The scores didn’t flow as freely in the second half and Thomas’s effectively nullified Ballyhale’s attacking threat with Fintan Burke seeing off all comers.
Having three times pulled four clear, Thomas’s looked set to see it out but Colin Fennelly won a penalty in the 57th minute after being pulled down by John Headd with Reid converting but Cooney quickly restored the lead for the Galway side, and then converted a huge free from his own 45, his 11th point of the day.
It meant that when Fintan Burke dragged Reid down as he bore down on goal, a three-pointer was the only option for the 34-year-old - and he emphatically obliged to snatch a remarkable victory.
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: Dean Mason; Kevin Mullen, Joey Holden, DarrenMullen; Evan Shefflin, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Conor Phelan, Patrick Mullen (0-1); Brian Cody, Eoin Cody (0-4), Adrian Mullen (0-1); Colin Fennelly (0-1), TJ Reid (2-5, 1-0 pen, 1-3f), Joseph Cuddihy (0-3).
Subs: Eoin Kenneally for Phelan (30+2), Brian Butler for Kevin Mullen (44), Conor Walsh for Darren Mullen (55), Eoin Reid for Kenneally (57).
ST THOMAS’S: Gerald Kelly; David Sherry, Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke; Cathal Burke, Evan Duggan, John Headd; David Burke, Bernard Burke (0-2); Darragh Burke (0-1), Conor Cooney (0-11, 0-10f, 0-1 sideline), James Regan (0-1); Eanna Burke (0-4), Brendan Farrell (0-1), Oisin Flannery.
Subs: Victor Manso for Farrell (47), Mark Caulfield for Duggan (57).
REFEREE: Rory McGann (Clare).
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
