Ballyhale march on in Leinster, but win soured by row after final whistle

A strong second half performance saw the Shamrocks (Ballyhale) book their place in the semi-finals of the Leinster senior hurling club championship, but it was what happened afterwards that will grab most of the headlines.

Within seconds of referee Padraig Dunne sounding the final whistle a row broke out between both sets of players. In the ensuing ruckus, a fan ran on to the field of play and became entangled in the row.

He was quickly restrained by members of the Kilcormac team, but the incident left an unsavoury ending to what had been an entertaining afternoon.

Players from both sides jostle, as a supporter, five from right, joins in the afray, after the AIB Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship quarter-final match between Shamrocks Ballyhale and Kilcormac-Killoughey at UMPC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

The Shamrocks can look back on a second half where they outscored their Offaly rivals by 0-15 to 0-8, raising their game as they came from three points down. Eoin Cody and Adrian Mullen led the charge for the Kilkenny champions, hitting five points between them as they overtook their rivals. Mullen landed the pick of the bunch, breaking down a Conor Slevin puck-out on 46 minutes before gathering possession and splitting the posts.

With TJ Reid punishing any Kilcormac foul - he converted seven second half frees - Henry Shefflin’s side never relinquished the lead once they assumed control.

It was tough on Kilcormac who, after a solid first half, struggled to regain their form. The Offaly champions took the game to the Shamrocks from the off, with corner-forwards Adam Screeney and Charlie Mitchell leading the way.

Screeney did most of the damage when he converted a 25th minute penalty, drilling a low shot into the bottom left corner after Conor Mahon had been hauled down in the square.

The goal gave them a three-point lead at the break (1-10 to 0-10) - but they failed to hit the same heights in the second half.

Shamrocks will play Clough-Ballacolla in the semi-finals on November 23, with UPMC Nowlan Park hosting the game.

Scorers

Shamrocks - TJ Reid (0-12, 0-11 frees); Eoin Cody (0-5); Adrian Mullen (0-3); Paddy Mullen (0-2); Niall Shortall, Eoin Kenneally, Ronan Corcoran (0-1 each).

Kilcormac-Killoughey - Adam Screeney (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-4 frees); Conor Slevin (0-4, frees); Charlie Mitchell (0-3); Daniel Hand, Jack Screeney, James Gorman, Conor Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh, T Geraghty (0-1 each).