KILKENNY SHC FINAL/Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-11 James Stephens 0-12:IN THE hurling stakes, the only claim that matters as much as being the best team in Ireland is being the best team in Kilkenny.
No disputing both claims now as Ballyhale Shamrocks yesterday won their third county title in succession - matching, of course, the third successive All-Ireland of the county team - and like the whole Kilkenny hurling phenomenon there's no telling where it will end.
Ballyhale were the last team to win three county titles in succession, 1978-1980. They'll certainly be a handful for any team in the Leinster championship, and a menacing march towards another All-Ireland club title - which they won for a fourth time in 2007 - also looks inevitable.
It was telling too that Ballyhale staked this claim at the expense of James Stephens, who had won the previous two titles before them. It was, as usual, a tight and always intense contest, but two first-half goals - and a confirmation score from who else but Henry Shefflin - ultimately sealed the deal for Ballyhale as James Stephens's challenge fell short of expectations.
It presented wing back and captain Bob Aylward, son of Ballyhale manager Maurice, with the honour of accepting the winners' trophy, and with that, the club also earns the right to nominate the Kilkenny captaincy for next year's campaign to win a fourth successive All-Ireland - a feat the county has never before achieved - and that will be an interesting choice.
James "Cha" Fitzpatrick is likely to surrender the honour, and Shefflin may well take over again, but midfielder Michael Fennelly, and forward TJ Reid, are other candidates.
Victory, however, may well have eluded them had James Stephens been a little more clinical with their scoring chances in the second half; and had Ballyhale not hit them with two killer first-half goals. The Ballyhale defence, particularly full back Eamonn Walsh and centre back Aidan Cummins, were crucial in keeping that lead intact in the busy climax, because the driving forces of the game at that stage were the likes of Jackie Tyrrell and Donnacha Cody who were bullish in the efforts to find a way back.
Yet, it just wouldn't happen for them. They limited Ballyhale to two points for practically the entire second half, before Shefflin, and then Fennelly, tagged on two confirmation scores - a massive free from Shefflin, and a similarly awesome score for Fennelly. The problem for James Stephens was they just couldn't get close enough, and while they reduced it to a three-point game with just over five minutes left, that was as close as they got. It still made for an exciting climax for the crowd of 8,000, making up for a first half that was dominated by Ballyhale.
The high stakes were fully evident from the throw-in as both teams tore into each other with unmistakable desire, and for a short while they looked inseparable. Two first half goals changed that - on eight minutes, Shefflin started a move that was flicked between Brendan Costelloe and Patrick Reid, before the ball was tidily whipped into the net by Eoin Reid. Suddenly, Ballyhale looked the more threatening.
Shefflin was easing into the game, hitting his first free on 22 minutes. Then, from the puck-out, Patrick Reid grabbed possession, tore straight back towards the goal, and rattled the net for the Ballyhale's second goal - which left them 2-5 to 0-4 in front with only 23 minutes gone.
The youngest of the three Reid brothers, 20 year-old TJ, was also in the thick of it, and between them they hit 2-4. Fitzpatrick ended up with 0-2, including a glorious sideline, and Shefflin with 0-3, his last free, as mentioned, covering some 80 metres.
From well before the finish then James Stephens found themselves hunting for a goal to stay in touch.
Hurler of the Year Eoin Larkin wasn't enjoying the most productive afternoon, hitting just three frees in the end, while also guilty of a couple of costly wides early in the second half when James Stephens most needed them.
But the goal they needed hardly come close to materialising, not with the Ballyhale defence in such merciless mood.
So having gone into the break 2-7 to 0-6 in arrears, James Stephens needed to up their ante in the second half - and for a good while they did. David Walton came on to notable effect, hitting two points, and with Tyrrell and Cody so frantic for possession they were largely back in command.
Cody contributed two huge scores in the last 10 minutes to help close the gap to three, but with that it was Ballyhale who eased clear again, adding the final two scores.
It increased their winning tally in Kilkenny to 12 titles, joint second on the all-time list, with only Tullaroan winning more with their 20. Assuming this will be one of the harder games they'll get all year, Ballyhale's latest All-Ireland campaign thus begins now.
BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J Connolly; P Shefflin, E Walsh, P Holden; M Dermody, A Cummins, B Aylward; J "Cha" Fitzpatrick (0-2, one sideline), M Fennelly (0-1); D Hoyne (0-1), H Shefflin (0-3, two frees), TJ Reid (0-2); P Reid (1-0), E Reid (1-2), B Costelloe. Subs: M Aylward for Costelloe (45 mins), G Fennelly for Dermody (48 mins).
JAMES STEPHENS: F Cantwell; T Keogh, J Moran, N McQuillan; D Cody (0-2, one free, one 65), J Tyrrell, S Campion; R Hayes, D McCormack (0-1); B McEvoy, E Larkin (0-4, three frees), P Barry; M Ruth (0-1), P Larkin (0-1), G Whelan (0-1). Subs: D Walton (0-2) for McEvoy (29 mins), J Murray for Whelan (49 mins), E McCormack for Ruth (58 mins).
Referee: E Mansfield (Cloneen/Railyard).
