The finalists in the senior, intermediate and junior grades in Kilkenny have been revealed following the weekends action.
On Saturday, Ballyhale Shamrocks were 1-24 to 1-20 winners against Tullaroan with a second half Colin Fennelly goal proving crucial.
Due to a bereavement in the camp, Shamrocks game with Clara initially got postponed, which has a knock on effect in the semi-final. Thus Tullaroan and Shamrocks played out their semi-final clash on the weekend just gone.
James Stephens on the other hand had a break last weekend as initially intended after they dispatched Dicksboro. Is there an advantage in having a break, or an advantage in playing a tough match and keeping up to speed with everything. I’m sure commentators will sway either way depending on the result.
After the game, however, Colin Fennelly told Scoreline that while the immediacy of the semi-final win means he hasn’t thought about the final against the Village, recent meetings highlight how close a tie it could be.
“I started playing with Ballyhale in 2007, we have met numerous times in semi finals and finals. It has always been a big game, it is never an easy one.”
“Next Sunday will not be any different. We know we need to switch around pretty quick, but we just have to look forward to it.”
Since 2007, Shamrocks have met the Village four times in the final, only losing the once in those ties, after forcing a replay in 2011. The most recent final meeting was in 2017 with Shamrocks convincingly coming away as 2-21 to 1-15 winners.
Infact the two sides have met at the semi-final stage the last two years in a row, with five in a row chasing shamrocks coming out on top each time.
Listen back to the full postmatch reaction with Colin and more on Scoreline Extra below:
