Kilkenny SHC Final/Ballyhale 1-20 St Martin's 1-10:There aren't many clubs that can rival the success of Ballyhale Shamrocks in championship hurling, but when manager Maurice Aylward described this as their greatest victory of all time he was hardly exaggerating.
Aylward wasn't just referring to the 10-point winning margin, which possibly flattered Ballyhale. Nor that Ballyhale had pulled off that highly challenging feat of successfully defending the Kilkenny title, their 11th in all, and in the process getting their All-Ireland club title defence well under way.
It was, of course, more about the background to this victory, as it came without their star players Henry Shefflin and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, both on crutches with injury. If any other club or county team were without those two they wouldn't be given much of a chance.
In a way, however, playing without Kilkenny's All-Ireland winning captain and his fellow All Star probably gave them the extra incentive they needed to put away St Martin's, who were contesting their first final since 1991, when they also lost to Ballyhale. Shefflin could be seen rallying every player from the sideline, and the team played as if to prove they could win it without their injured players, but also for them.
And on the day, several Ballyhale players stepped into the shoes of those county stars, most notably the Reid brothers TJ, Eoin and Patrick, the team captain - who between them amassed 1-16 of the team's total.
TJ Reid ended up with 0-10, but it was Eoin Reid's goal just after the restart that effectively sealed the deal for Ballyhale.
St Martin's came to Nowlan Park looking for only a second county title, the first coming back in 1984, but were probably more about youth and potential than real contenders to the Ballyhale crown.
Still, they came fairly close to pulling it off, and for most of the first half held a slight advantage on their more experienced opponents.
With some close marking and continuous hassling, St Martin's managed to stall Ballyhale's fiery attack for at least the first 30 minutes, and after 13 minutes found themselves with an early cushion.
Big full forward Brian Mulhall brilliantly linked with Joe Maher and Eoin McGrath, with the latter cleanly finishing into the net to put them 1-2 to 0-2 in front.
It was tough hurling for the rest of the half, played between autumn sunshine and wintry rain, with points frequently exchanged.
Ballyhale could easily have had two goals before the break, only for the brave defending of St Martin's corner back Alan Murphy, and yet St Martin's were deserving of their marginal lead at the break, 1-5 to 0-7.
Within 10 seconds of the restart, however, that lead disintegrated, never to be recovered. Bob Aylward floated the ball towards the St Martin's goal, only for goalkeeper Colin McGrath to misread it. Eoin Reid happily flicked the ball into the net and so the whole momentum of the game was irrevocably changed.
St Martin's lost their composure, while Ballyhale strengthened theirs. Patrick Reid hit the first of three second-half points, and they were suddenly all over St Martin's, who contributed to their downfall by hitting five second-half wides, and 11 in total.
All the while Ballyhale midfielders Michael and Colin Fennelly increased their dominance, and Eamonn Fitzpatrick chipped over a fine score.
It was left to centre forward John Maher to keep St Martin's in touch, and at least his free-taking was faultless. With six minutes left to play there was still only a goal in it - Ballyhale up 1-13 to 1-10 - but from then on it was one-way traffic.
The Reid brothers put on an exhibition of scoring and there was nothing St Martin's could do about it; with four scores without replay the outcome was soon evident.
John Maher ended with 0-8 (all frees), which means the 1-2 for Eoin McGrath were the only St Martin's scores from play.
Afterwards Ballyhale captain Patrick Reid tribute to St Martin's, reminding them that Ballyhale had to lose the county final three years ago before going on to win the last, and there's no doubt St Martin's are an emerging team.
In the end, though, it was a fairly devastating performance by Ballyhale. They'll next play Carlow champions Mount Leinster Rangers, with the winner of that playing former All-Ireland champions Birr.
It goes without saying, that no club will fancy playing them in the coming weeks.
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J Connolly; P Shefflin, E Walsh, P Holden; M Dermody, A Cummins, B Aylward; C Fennelly (0-3), M Fennelly; E Fitzpatrick (0-1), TJ Reid (0-10, five frees, one 65), B Costelloe; E Reid (1-2), P Reid (0-4), M Aylward. Subs: K Nolan for B Aylward (60 mins).
ST MARTIN'S: C McGrath; S Cadigan, B Maher, A Murphy; N Moran, J Dowling, R Maher; P Maher, S Coonan; D Maher, J Maher (0-8, all frees), J Mulhall; E McGrath (1-2), B Mulhall, J Maher. Subs: T Breen for J Maher (45 mins), D Callanan for Coonan (46 mins), P Nolan for P Maher (48 mins).
Referee: Domo Connolly (Mooncoin)
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