Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-28 St Thomas 2-11
The Shamrocks just got the scores easier.
For the first five minutes of the second half of this All-Ireland club final, St Thomas’ were well on top. They were doing all the hurling, their half back line were winning everything, but they just couldn’t for the life of them get a score.
For the second five, Ballyhale had their purple patch and in contrast, when the sun shined, the Kilkenny men made hay.
Henry Shefflin’s side put on an exhibition of clinical finishing down the other end and this five explosive minutes would ultimately send them well on their way to a record seventh Tommy Moore Cup.
Eoin Cody took one point, Paddy Mullen another, Colin Fennelly was causing absolute wreck, winning frees and knocking them over from open play.
Colin Fennelly the difference so far. The big bull at full forward has hit 2-1 as the Shamrocks lead by 2-10 to 1-8 at half-time.
St Thomas have moved wing back Fintan Burke back to the edge of the square to try and keep him quiet pic.twitter.com/ZzF5RzpQDm
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 17, 2019
From five down at half-time, the gap stretched to nine just like that. By the 50th minute, it had increased to 12.
A clever Ballyhale Shamrocks side were never going to lose it from there. This win was well deserved.
It was that man Colin Fennelly who gave them the head-start. Like a raging bull he turned in the fifth minute and the Thomas’ full back was never going to catch him.
The goalie could have done better, Fennelly didn’t mind.
David Burke and Shane Cooney were keeping Thomas’ in it with some sharp hurling between them, but Kevin Lally’s tactic of withdrawing Conor Cooney from the full forward line didn’t pay off.
The Galway star was hitting the ball to where he should have been himself.
Ballyhale kept travelling the direct route and Colin Fennelly was in his element.
Adrian Mullen mightn’t have meant to feed the target man in the 22nd minute of the game, but he gobbled it up anyway.
An audacious flick so perfect you thought it could only have been a fluke.
Conas ar éirigh le @ColinFennelly an cúl seo a aimsiú?!@BallyhaleGAA @KilkennyCLG @gaaleinster #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/eHNp14dEtF
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 17, 2019
The replay showed that he meant every inch of it.
Credit: TG4
Adrian Mullen had a field day in the second half as Thomas’ intensity weaned after a nasty looking knee injury to Fintan Burke. The 19-year-old hit three beauties off the bat – hit the post three times too – but you’d let him away with it. He’s the real deal and Brian Cody will surely be giving him a call soon.
Adrian Mullen scores a great point for Ballyhale! pic.twitter.com/XMm8BJUbVP
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 17, 2019
Fennelly was the man though. 2-4 he finished with.
That’s the stuff of dreams on All-Ireland club final day.
Ballyhale are in their promised land again.
