It’s the former champions against the aristocrats of Leinster club hurling in the AIB senior club hurling final this Sunday.
AIB Leinster Club SHC Final Kilcormac-Killoughey v Ballyhale Shamrocks Sunday 2pm O’Moore Park
The final AIB Senior provincial club final of 2014 sees the kingpins of not only Kilkenny but the province, Ballyhale Shamrocks, take on the 2012 champions in what’s sure to be a cracking contest.
The Offaly side have been a shining light despite struggles at inter-county level and their experience and guile will pose the Kilkenny side a number of key issues on Sunday.
The ex All-Ireland club winners come in off the back of an incredible drama filled win over Shelmaliers in Wexford Park that pushed the midlanders all the way to extra-time last month. They then disposed of Raharney of Westmeath in a shaky performance that required their experience and greater strength in-depth to shine through.
Eighteen-year-old Cillian Kiely was one of their best in defeating the Wexford champions, scoring the all-important match-winning point, and he is a player that will have to get on as much ball as possible if the title is to be retained. Along with free-taker Ciarán Slevin,who to be fair had a mixed day out against Raharney, Kiely will be expected to get most of the scores for the Offaly side.
That won’t be an easy task against a Ballyhale defence that sees Michael Fennelly stationed at centre-back and Joey Holden,who might be seen as a successor to the departing JJ Delaney in black and amber, at number three.
Ultimately this could be where the Offaly side fall down as they may struggle to break down a resolute defence that conceded just 0-12 to Kilmacud Crokes in their semi and 1-13 to Clara in the Kilkenny county final.
No such fears for Ballyhale because with Henry Shefflin at the edge of the square and TJ Reid pulling the strings from centre forward they can carve open any defence in the country.
Even trying to tactically shut down Ballyhale won’t work as their power, pace and incredible individual talent will ensure that they will always create chances.
There is no doubt that K/K have had a tougher route to the final and normally you would wager that would prepare them better for a decider in December. However, Ballyhale cruised past a limited Kilmacud side in their semi final and ooze class throughout the field.
It would be a huge surprise if K/K were to overcome Ballyhale on Sunday but if they are to do so then they need to go direct and not concede the two soft goals the Dublin champions did in the clash in Parnell Park last month.
Ballyhale look stronger in every area of the field and we fully expect the Kilkenny side to wrap up what has been an incredible year for the black and amber at club and -inter-county level with the AIB Leinster senior title on Sunday.
