K-K bow out of Leinster race amid 'unsavoury scenes'

Shamrocks Ballyhale 0-25 Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-18

Despite an impressive first-half display, Kilcormac-Killoughey's hopes were ended by Kilkenny's Shamrocks Ballyhale in their Leinster Club SHC quarter-final at UPMC Nowlan Park this afternoon (Sunday).

However, an entertaining contest was marred by a fracas after the final whistle during which a Kilcormac-Killoughey supporter lashed out at an Ballyhale player. The flare up involved many players while the fan had to be restrained by a K-K player, and he was eventually escorted away after he had managed to get on to the pitch.

In his post-match interview, Ballyhale manager Henry Shefflin actually referred to the "unsavoury" scenes before the issue was even raised by TG4 presenter Micheál Ó Domhnaill

“It was unsavoury,” said Shefflin. “We absolutely don’t condone it. I'm disappointed we were involved in such a situation because the match was over. We didn't need to (get involved).

"It's out of control and there's no place for it whatsoever in the game. So look, we all agree on that. I think they (K-K) are a fabulous hurling team and we like to play hurling the right way as well. So, it's disappointing that that's what we’re going to be talking about," added the hugely decorated former Kilkenny star.

Kilcormac-Killoughey manager Declan Laffan echoed Shefflin’s views. “Look, there was no call for it. It was coming up towards the end, I don't know what really... I know the tackle obviously instigated it, but probably a lot of frustration and somebody came in out of the crowd and nobody wants to see that," said Laffan.

“Whatever happens on the field, leave them (the players) at it and let that be it and it'll finish, it'll play itself out. Look, I suppose frustration spilled over, but unfortunately we can't control everybody,” added Laffan, who was part of the management team which guided Tipperary to All-Ireland glory earlier this year.

Laffan described the fracas as "not a true representation of both clubs", adding that "unfortunately, it just happened and we have to move on”.

As for the match itself, a fired up K-K outfit had the edge in the first half and they curtailed many of the Ballyhale forwards. The country's most successful hurling club, with nine All-Ireland titles to their name, looked rattled and hit several wides.

Jordan Quinn, facing the venerated TJ Reid, was just one of the K-K defenders to impress, while Charlie Mitchell sent over three splendid points at the other end.

The Offaly champions led 1-10 to 0-10 at half-time, the goal coming from Adam Screeney's penalty after a foul on Conor Mahon by Brian Butler.

But Shamrocks responded in style in the third quarter and outscored K-K by 0-8 to 0-1 to take a firm grip on proceedings.

With player of the match Eoin Cody (scorer of 0-5 from play) leading the charge, and TJ Reid contributing a dozen points (all bar one from frees), Ballyhale ran out deserving winners in the end.

Yet the fracas following the final whistle provided as many talking points as the entertaining hurling spectacle served up by two highly committed and skilful teams.

Scorers - Shamrocks Ballyhale: TJ Reid 0-12 (11f); E Cody 0-5; A Mullen 0-3; P Mullen 0-2; N Shortall, E Kenneally and R Corcoran 0-1 each. Kilcormac-Killoughey: A Screeney 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f); C Slevin 0-4 (4f); C Mitchell 0-3; D Hand, J Screeney, J Gorman, C Mahon, L Kavanagh and T Geraghty 0-1 each.

Shamrocks Ballyhale - Dean Mason; Killian Corcoran, Joey Holden, Brian Butler; Eoin Kenneally, Richie Reid, Evan Shefflin; Liam Barron, Ronan Corcoran; Brian Cody, Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen; Niall Shortall, TJ Reid, Paddy Mullen. Subs: Dara Mason for Butler (43 mins), John Fitzpatrick for B Cody (53), Finnian Shefflin for P Mullen (59), Conor Walsh for Barron (60+1), Luke Donnelly for Corcoran (60+3).

Kilcormac-Killoughey - Conor Slevin; Tom Spain, Jordan Quinn, James Mahon; Enda Grogan, Cillian Kiely, Brecon Kavanagh; Colin Spain, Damien Kilmartin; Jack Screeney, Adam Screeney, Daniel Hand; Charlie Mitchell, James Gorman, Conor Mahon. Subs: Alex Kavanagh for Gorman (39), Ter Guinan for Kilmartin (49), Leigh Kavanagh for Hand (55), Thomas Geraghty for Mahon (59), Peter Geraghty for Spain (60+1).

Referee - Pádraig Dunne (Laois).