Shefflin crowns perfect season

Kilkenny SHC Final/Ballyhale 1-22 O'Loughlin Gaels 2-11: A prolific Henry Shefflin orchestrated victory from his favourite centre half forward position as Ballyhale Shamrocks claimed the title in the 110th Kilkenny SHC final before a huge crowd at Nowlan Park yesterday.

Afterwards Shefflin was quick to deflect attention from his own magnificent performance as he emphasised instead the overall team effort. But Ballyhale's victory over O'Loughlins, who were playing catch-up hurling from the early stages, featured some memorable individual displays.

The crowd rose to the dynamic exploits of Shefflin, James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, corner back Pat Holden, Michael Fennelly and the Reid brothers. O'Loughlins full forward Martin Comerford also threatened to emerge as the big personality of a fine game played at breakneck speed.

He scored two opportunist goals in the first half to keep O'Loughlins within some sort of distance of a strong, well-drilled Shamrocks team.

But ultimately Shefflin, who was winning his first county title, was the man of the match with 10 points, six of them from frees, a couple of which were from 80 yards out. Shefflin was captain for the day instead of Tom Coogan, who missed the game with injury but was present to receive the trophy.

"It is a marvellous occasion for me. I grew up in Ballyhale and watched the Fennellys and my brothers win county finals and All-Irelands," said a delighted Shefflin afterwards.

The game got off to an explosive start with Mick Aylward and Shefflin scoring points within a minute before Martin Comerford had the first of his two well-taken goals to give O'Loughlins a brief lead. Highlights of the opening period were huge points from Shefflin and centre-back Aidan Cummins. Once Shamrocks got the bit between their teeth they found the target regularly with a string of fine points. O'Loughlins faced a big task as they trailed 1-14 to 2-4 at half-time.

The disjointed nature of the O'Loughlin side in the opening half led to the introduction of a full complement of five subs. Maurice Nolan, an outstanding forward and accurate free-taker, improved O'Loughlins midfield when moved out there in the second half.

Still, Shamrocks, courtesy of TJ Reid, Shefflin, Pat Reid and Cha Fitzpatrick, stretched the lead in the third quarter to 1-17 to 2-6. O'Loughlins improved midway through the second half and two of their substitutes, Noel Skehan and Mick Bergin, contributed four points between them.

But for all their possession, O'Loughlins never reduced the deficit to less than five points.

Shamrocks were on the back foot towards the end but they had the capacity to regroup in time, with Cha Fitzpatrick steadying the ship at midfield. O'Loughlins applied pressure in the last 10 minutes but a key moment came when Martin Comerford was denied a possible third goal and from the resulting clearance Cha Fitzpatrick pointed to stretch Shamrocks' lead to 1-18 to 2-9.

The O'Loughlins manager, Brian Murphy, a three-in-a-row hero with Cork in his day, disagreed with suggestions that perhaps Martin Comerford could have been switched out to the 40.

"Martin is best placed up front in the scoring zone," he said. "Ballyhale's performance was excellent and I reckon they deserved to win it."

Ballyhale lost out to James Stephens in last year's decider and Shefflin was thrilled to have completed the job this time.

"I suppose you have to lose one to win one and victory today was very sweet for our fellows."

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J Connolly; P Shefflin, E Walsh, P Holden; K Nolan, A Cummins (0-1), B Aylward; J "Cha" Fitzpatrick (0-3), M Fennelly (0-1); E Fitzpatrick, H Shefflin (0-10, 6 fs), T J Reid (0-3); E Reid, P Reid (0-1), M Aylward (1-3)

O'LOUGHLIN GAELS: K Cleere; B Murphy, B Hogan, A O'Brien; S Dowling, P Dowling, N McEvoy; A Geoghegan (0-2), M Kelly; J Lawlor, A Comerford, A Nolan (0-5, 4 fs); J Comerford, M Comerford (2-0), B Dowling. Subs: B Kelly (for Murphy), M Bergin (0-2) for J Lawlor, N Skehan (0-2 frees) for M Kelly, C Furlong for J Comerford, A Kearns for McEvoy.

Referee: D O'Sullivan (Kilkenny).