Kilkenny GAA- Shamrocks bring an end to Thomastown's title reign

It was another dramatic day of action in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship with Thomastown’s reign as county champions coming to an end. 

The South Kilkenny outfit were defeated by an on-fire Shamrocks Ballyhale in the first of two games at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The tie was a repeat of the corresponding fixture from a year ago but the outcome was very different as Henry Shefflin’s team laid down a serious marker to the other three teams left in the competition. 

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Shamrocks last won the senior crown in 2022 and after a tight opening period, they opened up in the second half with Niall Shortall getting the all important goal as they eventually ran out comprehensive 1-22 to 0-16 winners. 

Eoin Cody, TJ Reid and man of the match Brian Cody all had impressive showings for the winners and while Robbie Donnelly and Luke Connellan kept Thomastown in it for a period, they were well beaten in the end. 

The second game of the day pipped hot favourites O’Loughlin Gaels against Clara and it turned into a real cracker with O’Loughlin’s surviving a huge scare. 

A Dara Glynn goal helped Clara into a 1-4 to 0-6 lead at the end of the first quarter but O’Loughlins bounced back with Conor Kelly getting their opening major just a couple of minutes later. 

Owen Wall then gave Clara a stiffer task to deal with when getting a second goal on the back of a storming Mikey Butler run and when Fionan Mackessy added a third before the break, the game looked as good as over with Brian Hogan’s men leading on a 3-10 to 1-6 scoreline. 

A Chris Bolger goal in the 37th minute offered Clara a lifeline and when the same player batted in another effort with five minutes remaining, only a point seperated the teams. 

A James Bergin free then levelled the game at 3-17 apiece going into stoppage time but O’Loughlin’s got a second wind from here with Fionan Mackessy and Conor Heary both pointing from play before Mackessy landed the insurance free as they won out on a 3-20 to 3-17 final scoreline.