Search Results for 'Henry Shefflin'

Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-19

The Cats dominated and cleaned up in the Vodafone GAA All-Stars last month and now it looks like the honours will also go their way in this year’s Gaelic Player Awards.

Awesome! That’s the only word to sum up the Kilkenny hurling club kingpins. Despite Shamrocks running out 13-point victors, they were cruising along with effortless ease led by Henry Shefflin as they cantered into their fourth consecutive final.

The Shamrocks remain on course to lift the Tom Walsh Cup for the third consecutive year after blowing away Carrickshock in a second half blitz last Sunday. They outscored their neighbours 1-14 to 4 points in a virtuoso second half display that once again left people in the stands in awe of their talents. The Ballyhale men most certainly hit the field running with early scores from Henry and Eoin Reid before Richie Power hit back for the Carrickshock men. The Shamrocks’ machine took off once more with points from Henry (3), Colin Fennelly and the impressive Eoin Reid. At this early stage it looked fairly bleak for the ‘Shocks as the Ballyhale men ghosted around the field slotting scores from all angles. The one Carrickshock man that rose to the occasion was their Offaly import David Franks, his burst up the field 10 minutes before half-time, seemed to inspire some of his colleagues. I don't know whether it was that Carrickshock lifted their game or the Ballyhale men dosed off due to their comfortable position, but they certainly had the better of the exchanges during the last ten minutes. Points from intercounty men Michael Rice, Richie Power and one from Shane Power left the minimum between them as half-time approached. This year’s county minor Mark O'Dwyer levelled proceedings on the stroke of half-time with a well taken score.

Ballyhale Shamrocks v James Stephens

Thousands of supporters flocked to Nowlan Park on Sunday last to witness the end of the senior club hurling and the battle of the greats. Ballyhale were seeking their 3-in-a-row and James Stephens were hoping to prevent them reaching it. Earlier predictions saw a Ballyhale landslide victory. However, the men from the Village fought to the bitter end. They refused to hang their heads and were worthy opponents. Ballyhale’s Trojan defence can be credited with their victory, they didn’t give an inch with six of the Village scores coming from frees with the other points from David McCormack, Philly Larkin and Mathew Ruth. James Stephens’s Achilles heal was their attack which at times lacked power and speed, whenever the ball was sent their way, it nearly always landed in Padraig Holden’s grasp- who cleaned up for Ballyhale. Philly Larkin, Mathew Ruth, an injured Eoin Larkin and Peter Barry tried their best up front for the Village. While captain Jackie Tyrrell ran the length and breadth of the ground. Ballyhale were led to victory courtesy of the Reid brothers. TJ, Eoin and Patrick put in super displays and their ability to score in difficult situations proved decisive. Eoin and Paddy’s goals put Ballyhale in the driving seat. Henry had a relatively quiet game, he was held firmly by the strength of Jackie Tyrrell who never allowed Shefflin to shine as he only scored one point from play and at times showed his frustration. However the day belonged to the men from Ballyhale, and while at times the score could have gone either way, their skill and strength won out resulting in a five point lead. The Kilkenny senior team wil, for another year, be led by a Ballyhale man.

Like many other sports fans I am a big admirer of much of the material produced in the RTE sports department on both TV and radio.

Following the opening of the new state-of-the-art hearing clinic Hidden Hearing this week, Kilkenny people now have the country’s most technologically advanced hearing clinic at their disposal.

It was deja-vu all over again. Similar to the county senior final, Ballyhale Shamrocks were effortlessly cruising to victory as they led the Laois senior champions 1-13 to 1-3 at the interval.

The greatest year in the history of Kilkenny hurling rolls on as 2008 reaches its conclusion.