Spectators stunned as hurling royalty togs out for Junior match in Kilkenny

An audible murmur of intrigue and excitement rippled through those attending a top class Junior match in Clara last Tuesday, as a very familiar face in Kilkenny hurling took to the field.

The sight of Henry Shefflin lining out in the green of Ballyhale made the game a particularly exciting one for all involved, especially the younger players. As our Clara Notes correspondent observes, some of those younger hurlers weren’t even born by the time Henry had bagged his third All-Ireland senior medal!

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The Clara Juniors had a terrific victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks in the match. A late Alex McDonald goal won it for Clara when he bravely batted a ball past Shamrocks goalie Mark Aylward. 1-14 to 0-15 was how it finished.

Clara team - Jason Barcoe, Jim Kehoe, James Dowling, Ben Crow. Peter Nolan 0-1, Tom Ryan 0-1, Harry Boyle. Killian Phelan 0-2, Conor Phelan. Luke Whelan, Joe Connolly 0-7, 0-5f, Cian Kelly 0-1. Sean Carrigan, Alan Coleman, Rory O Keeffe 0-2. Subs used Alex McDonald 1-0, Noel Kehoe, Ben Murphy.

Then on Saturday night, the Clara lads were sent crashing back to earth with a chastening 4-26 to 2-10 loss to Dicksboro in St John’s Park. The 'Boro have probably as strong a panel as any side in the country at present and Clara were short a few of their better players who were needed for senior duty the following day.

The difference in class was soon evident and the Boro led 0-12 to 0-6 at halftime, despite having played against the breeze. The goals started arriving in the second half and although Clara gamely scored two of their own, they were completely outgunned by the city team.

Clara team - Jason Barcoe, Jim Kehoe, James Dowling, Ben Crow. Zach Lawlor, Tom Ryan, Cian Kelly. Harry Boyle 0-1, Conor Phelan. Luke Whelan, Killian Phelan 1-6, 1-0 pen, 0-5f, Rory O Keeffe 0-2. Sean Carrigan 0-1, Alan Coleman, Noel Kehoe. Subs used Ben Nolan, Adam Harding 0-1.