Experience tells late on as Shamrocks survive Clough Ballaocolla scare

Shamrocks Ballyhale are into another Leinster Senior Club Final but only after surviving a huge scare against Laois champions Clough-Ballacolla in UPMC Nowlan Park this afternoon.

Henry Shefflin's team grabbed the last three points via Darragh Corcoran, Eoin Cody and TJ Reid to survive a huge challenge and it was only in those final minutes, that Ballyhale supporters could breath easily.

The game was a repeat of the 2021 Leinster decider but unlike on that occasion when the Shamrocks found the net on six occasions, this was a clash that went right to the wire.

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The Kilkenny winners were in early control when they raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead but helped by a goal from Lochlainn Conway, the visitors soon turned the screw and made things difficult for the hosts.

Shamrocks then got a goal of their own through Niall Shortall in the 17th minute and with TJ finding the range four more times before the end of the half it left the 12-time Leinster champions ahead on a 1-12 to 1-8 scoreline.

While it was a scrappy start to the second period, it was the Laois team who looked the more threatening as points from Aidan Corby and Stephen Bergin narrowed the gap back to just two.

A TJ Reid free was Shamrocks only score between the 33rd and 50th minutes but lucky enough for them their opponents also struggled to get scores on the board.

When the stalemate ended TJ and Eoin Cody put the Shamrocks ahead on a 1-15 to 1-12 scoreline but Ballacolla rallied with efforts from Willie Dunphy and Aidan Corby levelling matters with only two minutes left on the clock.

Shamrocks then showed all their experience as they landed the last three points to book themselves a Croke Park date against St Martin's of Wexford on Saturday week where major improvement will be needed.

Teams and Scorers

Shamrocks Ballyhale- TJ Reid (0-10, 9fs and 1 '65); Niall Shortall (1-0); Eoin Cody, Ronan Corcoran (0-2 each); Darragh Corcoran, Brian Cody, Evan Shefflin, Eoin Kenneally (0-1 each)

Clough Ballacolla- Stephen Bergin (0-6, 6fs); Willie Dunphy (0-4); Lochlainn Conway (1-0); Aidan Corby, Killian Dunne (0-2 each); Lee Cleere (0-1)

Shamrocks Ballyhale- Dean Mason; Killian Corcoran, Joey Holden, Brian Burtler; Eoin Kenneally, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Evan Shefflin, Ronan Corcoran; John Fitzpatrick, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid; Liam Barron, Brian Cody, Niall Shortall.

Subs: Dara Mason for Butler, h-t; Finnian Shefflin for Fitzpatrick, 42 mins; Conor Phelan for Barron, 63 mins.

Clough Ballacolla- Cathal Dunne; Joseph Pearson, Darren Maher, Diarmaid Conway; Lochlainn Conway, Lee Cleere, Cormac Hogan; Aidan Corby, Kevin Mulhall; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan; Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy. Stephen Bergin.

Subs: Stephen Maher for L.Conway, 49 mins; Joe Corby for Mulhall, 54 mins; Padraig Brennan for Phelan, 56 mins.

Referee- Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)

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