Graigue Ballycallan give Shamrocks Ballyhale 'the blues' - Kilkenny Live

An impressive Graigue Ballycallan put 14-man Shamrocks Ballyhale to the sword in Group B of the St Canice's Credit Union Senior Hurling League in Dunnamaggin on Saturday evening with the 'sky blues' young talent showing experience beyond their years.

Adrian Mullen's sending off on the 20th minute for interfering with Jeff Neary's helmet hindered the Ballyhale outfit in a game they would lead just once.

Graigue Ballycallan took advantage of the Shamrocks misfortune, with seven second half points without reply their strongest period of the match.

The Shamrocks' typical slow start to the league was on show yet again and they trailed 0-7 0-2 by the 11th minute with Aaron McEvoy frees and a wide range of scores including from Aaron Brennan and Sean Ryan who cancelled out points from the inter-county duo of Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen.

The South Kilkenny team did come to life in the second quarter, scoring 1-5 without reply with an Eoin Cody penalty goal complimented with a brace of points from Cody and Adrian Mullen.

Graigue Ballycallan never feared their opponents though and within 60 seconds of the Shamrocks penalty they had a goal of their own as the hard-working Sean Ryan found Conor Murphy with a clever hand-pass and Murphy netted dinking Dean Mason. 

The teams exchanged scores for the remainder of the half and at half-time Graigue Ballycallan held a 1-11 to 1-9 advantage.

Shamrocks Ballyhale wouldn't convert their next score until 12 minutes into the second half when an Eoin Cody free left the game at 1-18 to 1-10.

The 2022 champions did create drama with 12 minutes to go when a long ball from Darragh Corcoran found Ciaran Hoyne unawares in the Graigue Ballycallan goal to net and narrow the margin to 1-19 to 2-11 but Declan Browne's side held firm to secure their first win of the new season.

Graigue Ballycallan will face Clara in their next fixture while Shamrocks Ballyhale have a date with Erins Own.

Full match report in this week's Kilkenny People.

Starting Teams

Graigue Ballycallan: C Hoyne; D Egan, C Flynn, S Keoghan; C Prendiville, T Dunphy, B O'Neill; J Neary, A Brennan; R Corcoran, T Ronan, S Ryan; C Murphy, J Roberts, A McEvoy

Shamrocks Ballyhale: D Mason; B Butler, K Corcoran, L Cody; D Mason, D Corcoran, L Barron; C Coady, E Fitzpatrick; N Shortall, A Mullen, S Barron; J Fitzpatrick, E Cody, E Keneally