Kilkenny SHC- Shamrocks finish strong to advance as Village remain in relegation bother

Shamrocks welcomed back a number of their big hitters as they saw off James Stephens in front of a huge crowd in Callan on Sunday.

Between them Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody and TJ Reid scored 4-11 of their side’s winning total and it was that excellence in attack that set them apart against a James Stephens side that relied heavily on the free-taking exploits of Cian Kenny.

The Village were still right in the game until TJ Reid got his second goal in the 46th minute. From there on, last year’s county finalists scored at will.

There was a noticeable increase in intensity for a game of this magnitude and there was very little between the teams early on.

The Village got the first two points through Kenny and Luke Scanlon, before Shamrocks grew into the game with scores from John Fitzpatrick, Killian Corcoran and Eoin Cody.

The Ballyhale outfit then gained supremacy on the scoreboard when TJ Reid caught a Dean Mason puckout before offloading to Adrian Mullen, who finished to the net.

James Stephens didn’t drop the heads however and with Kenny and Ed McDermott showing well before he went off injured, there was only a point between the teams after 20 minutes (1-7 to 0-9).

A second Shamrocks goal wasn’t too far away though and it arrived in the nick of time as TJ Reid shot to the net on the back of Adrian Mullen having a close-range effort saved by Gavin Costigan.

Cian Kenny then added on the last two points of the half as the Village got the deficit back to three by the half-time whistle.

Eoin Cody got a third goal for the Shamrocks at the start of the second period to move the winners into a six point lead but even then the destination of the result was still up for grabs when Eoin Guilfoyle blocked down a Dean Mason clearance to grab a much needed goal for Brian Cody’s team.

A trio of Cian Kenny scores and an Eoin Guilfoyle effort levelled up proceedings but that only served to poke the bear with Shamrocks dominating the rest of the contest.

TJ Reid’s second goal on the rebound from a penalty miss where Niall Shortall was fouled in the square started the surge and with Paddy Mullen and Liam Barron getting in on the scoring act near the end, Shamrocks kept their championship hopes alive.

Teams and Scorers

Shamrocks - TJ Reid (2-4, 0-2 frees); Eoin Cody (1-4); Adrian Mullen (1-3); Paddy Mullen (0-3); Niall Shortall (0-2); John Fitzpatrick, Killian Corcoran, Liam Barron (0-1 each).

James Stephens - Cian Kenny (0-13, 0-12 frees); Eoin Guilfoyle (1-1); Ed McDermott, Ross Whelan (0-2 each); Luke Scanlon (0-1).

Shamrocks - Dean Mason; Dara Mason, Joey Holden, Brian Butler; Evan Shefflin, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Killian Corcoran, Eoin Kenneally; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, Paddy Mullen; Niall Shortall, Eoin Cody, John Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Liam Barron for Dara Mason, 36 mins; Colin Fennelly for Barron, 48 mins; Liam Barron for Fitzpatrick, 58 mins.

James Stephens - Gavin Costigan; Luke Murphy, Diarmuid Cody, Mikey Byrne; Sean Bergin, Niall Mullins, Shane Donohoe; Cian Kenny, Noah Manogue; Ross Whelan, Luke Scanlon, Ed Lauhoff; Stephen Manogue, Ed McDermott, Sean Manogue.

Subs: Eoin Guilfoyle for McDermott, 25 mins; Andy Parsons for Stephen Manogue, 40 mins; Niall Delaney for Murphy, 48 mins; Ben Lawlor for Byrne, 48 mins, Ethan Butler for Sean Manogue, 55 mins.

Referee- Gavin Quilty (Slieverue)