Shamrocks off the mark in Leinster campaign with victory over the Harps

Shamrocks Ballyhale are up and running in the Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship after running out nine point winners over the Harps in Portlaoise this afternoon.

The Kilkenny side were big winners in the end but they were still given a stern examination by the first time Laois champions with the goals coming at the right time for Mark Aylward’s team.

The Harps made a bright start and in a low scoring opening quarter, they led 0-5 to 0-4 with Ciaran Comerford, Eoin Delaney and Ross Deegan on target for the Durrow based outfit.

The turning point of the game then arrived when Shamrocks struck for two goals in two minutes and TJ Reid’s quality was written on both of them.

The former Kilkenny star caught a fantastic ball in the square on the way to being fouled for a penalty which he converted and the 39 year-old was at it again when a no look pass found Darragh Corcoran who crept upfield and he made no mistake when 1 on 1 with Harps goalkeeper Bobby Murphy.

Eoin Cody, Jake Mullen and Killian Corcoran maintained the Ballyhale lead to the break as they led 2-8 to 0-7 at the change of ends.

When TJ Reid added on two points at the start of the second period to cancel a pair of efforts for the Harps by Eoghan Murphy, the game looked very much in hand for the winners but the Harps soon gained a serious bit of momentum.

A total of 1-2 without reply including a lovely batted goal by Mark Downey got the Laois team back to within a puck of the ball until their joy ran out when Eoin Cody set up his brother Brian for the Shamrocks third goal in the 42nd minute.

The Kilkenny county champions controlled the game from there till the end with Brian Cody, TJ Reid and Ronan Corcoran all scoring multiple times as they booked their place in the semi-finals.

Next up is a home clash with Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes in two weeks time.

Teams and Scorers

Shamrocks Ballyhale: TJ Reid (1-8, 6fs); Brian Cody (1-3); Darragh Corcoran (1-0); Niall Shortall, Ronan Corcoran, Eoin Cody (0-2 each); KIllian Corcoran, Jake Mullen (0-1 each)

The Harps (Laois): Ciaran Comerford (0-6, 5fs); Mark Downey (1-0); Ross Deegan (0-3); Eoghan Murphy (0-2, 1 ‘65); Justin Duggan (0-2); Eoin Delaney, James Duggan, John Brophy (0-1 each)

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

Subs: Brian Butler for Shefflin, 6 mins; Cathal Coogan for Barron, 38 mins; Michael Barron for J.Mullen, 53 mins; Larry Cody for R.Corcoran, 57 mins; John Fitzpatrick for B.Cody, 57 mins.

The Harps (Laois): Bobby Murphy; Eoghan Doheny, Cody Comerford, Jack Kennedy; Ciaran Flynn, Podge Delaney, Eoghan Murphy; Rian Edwards, Padraic Dunne; Ross Deegan, Ciaran Comerford, Mark Downey; Justin Duggan, Eoin Delaney, James Duggan.

Subs: John Brophy for E.Delaney, 39 mins; Tiarnach Doheny for Edwards, 51 mins; Donal Deegan for Flynn, 55 mins; Cathal Murphy for Justin Duggan, 56 mins; Danny Comerford for Downey, 56 mins.

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)