KILKENNY SHC: FOR THE second year in a row, the Kilkenny county final will be contested by Ballyhale Shamrocks and James Stephens, with the decider fixed for Nowlan Park on Sunday, October 25th.

A first-half goal blitz helped Ballyhale Shamrocks stay on course for four successive county titles with a 4-16 to 2-12 victory over O’Loughlin Gaels yesterday.

TJ Reid steered a low shot into the bottom corner of Ollie Blanchfield’s net after six minutes and Ballyhale claimed their second goal six minutes later – Mark Aylward volleying a Reid pass to the net. Reid grabbed his second goal 60 seconds later, bursting through the Gaels defence before adding a cool finish to the far corner.

Ballyhale led 3-5 to 1-7 at half-time and O’Loughlin’s were just unable to get back into the game in the second half.

The other semi-final also featured crucial first-half goals, with James Stephens sinking the challenge of Castlecomer’s Erin Own, 2-7 to 0-11.

Eoin Larkin ended a fine weaving solo run with an 11th minute goal to send the Village men on their way. And, although ’Comer hit back with some good points from Martin Boran, they were left with an uphill task when Mathew Ruth goaled from an unstoppable shot with three minutes left in the half.

That left James Stephens with a healthy, 2-2 to 0-3, advantage at the interval and, while Erin’s Own pressed hard after the break, they couldn’t fully close the gap.

In the senior football final, Glenmore beat Muckalee, 2-7 to 0-10.

SCORERS

Ballyhale– TJ Reid 2-4 (0-1 a free); H Shefflin (two frees), C Fennelly 0-4 each; M Aylward 1-1; B Costelloe 1-0; D Hoyne, E Reid 0-1 each. O'Loughlin Gaels– M Bergin 0-7 (six frees); P Dowling 2-0; P Kelly 0-2; M Comerford, M Kelly, B Hogan 0-1 each.

James Stephens– E Larkin 1-4 (three frees); M Ruth 1-1; G Whelan, E McCormack 0-1 each. Erin's Own– M Boran 0-9 (six frees, one 65); D Meally, M Murphy 0-1 each.