KILKENNY SHC ROUND-UP:THE KILKENNY senior hurling championship semi-finals at Nowlan Park in two weeks' time will feature All-Ireland champions Ballyhale Shamrocks, Carrickshock, Erin's Own (Castlecomer) and O'Loughlin Gaels, who won their respective quarter-finals at the weekend. The draws for the pairings will be decided this week.

Shamrocks, who are chasing a fifth win on-the-trot, proved much too good for neighbours Dunnamaggin, winning by 1-19 to 0-9 after leading 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval. In Henry Shefflin’s absence, TJ Reid turned on the style and helped himself to nine points. Mark Aylward got the winners’ 44th-minute goal which effectively ended Dunnamaggin hopes.

Richie Power, scorer of 13 points, was the star of the show as Carrickshock pulled off a somewhat surprising 1-20 to 1-15 win over James Stephens, the recentlycrowned league champions.

The winners led by 0-12 to 0-11 at the break, but five second-half scores from Power and a 42nd-minute goal by John Power finished the city side’s challenge.

Earlier Martin Comerford hit 2-2 and under-21 star Mark Bergin impressed as O’Loughlin Gaels beat St Martin’s (Muckalee) 2-12 to 1-12 in a tight encounter.

Centre forward Michael Murphy hit six points as Erin’s Own (Castlecomer) defeated disappointing Clara by 0-13 to 0-8 in the fourth quarter-final.