Kilkenny SHC: Clara to defend title against Ballyhale
November 02, 2014
Clara's Lester Ryan celebrates
Holders Clara will meet Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Kilkenny SHC final on November 16 following their respective semi-final wins over Carrickshock and St. Martin's at Nowlan Park.
With Kilkenny's All-Ireland winning captain Lester Ryan and Keith Hogan to the fore, Clara were always in control against Carrickshock. A James Nolan goal in first half injury-time made it 1-10 to 0-4 and as good as sealed the result.
Carrickshock scored three of the second half's first four points, but the men in maroon replied with eight-in-a-row to run out emphatic 1-19 to 0-8 winners.
In the other semi-final, Ballyhale recovered from a sluggish start to beat St. Martin's 1-19 to 0-14. With John Maher helping himself to three early points, the underdogs from Muckalee opened up an early 0-6 to 0-2 lead, but Shamrocks rattled off the next six points to take a 0-8 to 0-6 advantage into the break.
Henry Shefflin and TJ Reid extended Ballyhale's lead before St. Martin's lost Patrick Noland to a second yellow card at the end of the third quarter.
And their fate was sealed when sub Mark Aylward scored the game's only goal 12 minutes from time.
