Kilkenny SHL- Shamrocks pounce late to stun gallant Erin’s Own

Shamrocks Ballyhale produced another houdini like act with a last second Michael Barron goal giving the defending county champions victory over Castlecomer in the opening round of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League.

Barron’s goal proved to be the final puck of the game and it proved to be a real killer for ‘Comer after Michael Brennan had edged the North Kilkenny side in front with a goal of his own a few minutes earlier.

Overall, it was a brillinat contest with the performance of Eoin Cody a real standout for the Shamrocks while Michael Brennan, Kevin Buggy and Jack Buggy all impressing in defeat for the Comer men.

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The writing looked on the wall for Erin’s Own when Shamrocks knocked over the first three points via Ronan Corcoran, TJ Reid and Niall Shortall but Michael Brennan soon settled Comer with his first free of the afternoon.

Shortall then had the first goal chance of the game with his effort from close in saved by by Conor O’Sullivan while senior debutant Jake Mullen also went close a couple of minutes later.

Those missed chances seemed to give Erin’s Own a jolt of confidence and they grew in belief the longer the game went on.

Two points apiece from the brotherly duo of Kevin and Jack Buggy got Comer within a point before Eoin Cody and Jake Mullen pushed the Shamrocks clear again as they led 0-9 to 0-5 after 20 minutes. It was from here that Erin’s Own really got into their groove as they scored six of the next seven points to take the lead for the first time.

The Buggy brothers, Michael Brennan, Eoin Brennan and Josh Dowling all split the posts during this spell as David Buggy’s outfit continued to bring the challenge to the county champions.

A Ronan Corcoran score which was one of four points over the course of the hour levelled the game at 0-11 apiece and with TJ Reid and Eoin Cody then adding on further points, it was the Shamrocks who went into the break with the lead.

Kevin Buggy kickstarted the second half scoring with a well taken point from distance for Comer but with Ronan Corcoran, Eoin Cody and Evan Shefflin contributing three points on the trot, the Shamrocks upped it a level to go into a 0-16 to 0-12 lead.

Michael Brennan and TJ Reid then exchanged converted placed balls before the Comer full forward got his side back into the game when he drilled a 21 yard free to the net past Dean Mason.

Cody and Conor McMahon swapped points afterwards to leave the sides on level terms going into the final quarter of a most enjoyable contest.

Three points on the spin from Corcoran, TJ Reid and Jake Mullen maintained the Shamrocks advantage but they were having great difficulty in shaking off a young and hungry Comer outfit who came back with three points withoutt reply themselves as Jack Buggy knocked over two from play either side of a Michael Brennan free.

Shamrocks looked like they’s done enough to see the game home through points from Cody and Reid but the shock result was very much on when Brennan blasted to the Ballyhale net two minutes into stoppage time.

There was still time for TJ Reid to level the game before the Kilkenny legend set up Michael Barron for the late winner with the last puck of the game.

Teams and Scorers

Shamrocks Ballyhale: Eoin Cody (0-8, 1f); TJ Reid (0-6, 4fs and 1 ‘65); Ronan Corcoran (0-4); Michael Barron (1-0); Evan Shefflin (0-3); Jake Mullen (0-2); Niall Shortall, Liam Barron (0-1 each)

Erin’s Own: Michael Brennan (2-7, 4fs and 1 ‘65); Jack Buggy (0-5); Kevin Buggy (0-4); Eoin Brennan, Conor McMahon, Josh Dowling (0-1 each)

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

Subs: Killian Ryan for K.Corcoran, 7 mins; Conor Phelan for Kenneally, 26 mins; Michael Barron for Fitzpatrick, 43 mins; Dylan Aylward for Butler, 54 mins; Cathal Coogan for Mullen, 57 mins.

Erin’s Own: Conor O’Sullivan; Aidan Moran, Cathal Holland, Conor Brophy; Josh Dowling, Conor Delaney, Ciaran Wallace; Conor McMahon, Joey Ryan; Kevin Buggy, Shane Feehan, Jack Buggy; Eoin Brennan, Michael Brennan, James Coogan.

Subs: Bobby Brennan for Delaney, 27 mins; Eoghan Moore for Feehan, 40 mins; Shane Coogan for Holland, 40 mins; Jake Connery for K.Buggy, 48 mins.

Referee: Stephen Delaney