Ballyhale Shamrocks' reign as Kilkenny and All-Ireland club hurling champions came to end yesterday when a late Niall McEvoy goal gave O'Loughlin Gaels a sensational 2-16 to 3-10 county semi-final victory at Nowlan Park.

Ballyhale were bidding for a fifth successive Kilkenny SHC title, but without their injured talisman Henry Shefflin, they succumbed to McEvoy's 57th minute strike. The champions had looked to be on their way to another county final appearance when Eoin Reid grabbed a goal with 10 minutes remaining to give them a 3-10 to 1-14 lead, but O'Loughlin's levelled through points from Maurice Nolan and Mark Bergin before McEvoy struck the winning goal.

O'Loughlin's will face Carrickshock in the final after they edged out Erin's Own by 1-16 to 1-14 in the other semi-final. Managed by new Laois boss Brendan Fennelly, Carrickshock had county star Richie Power to thank after his tally of 0-12 helped them to their first senior decider in 59 years. Tweet

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