Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-28 St Thomas' 2-11: Ballyhale romp to seventh title

Ballyhale Shamrocks have won a record seventh All-Ireland title, beating St Thomas' 2-28 to 2-11 at Croke Park.

There's something in the water in the rural Kilkenny village.

There are dynasties galore in this Ballyhale side. It's not the first time surnames such as Shefflin, Fennelly and Reid have climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand.

What makes the club's record seven All-Ireland titles all the more remarkable is how spread out they have been. It's not just one golden generation - 1981, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2010, 2015, and now 2019. The wheels keep on turning.

For Henry Shefflin, it's the perfect start to life in management. For a man who did it all on the field himself, it almost seemed inevitable he would translate such success when he moved to the sideline. Whenever Brian Cody eventually steps away from the Kilkenny hot seat, it would appear Shefflin is the replacement-in-waiting.

Ballyhale got off to the quicker start in the game, as county star Colin Fennelly broke in from the right for a goal. St Thomas' rallied admirably and levelled it up after Conor Cooney converted a penalty. Nonetheless, against a stiff breeze, the Leinster champions wore their opponents down.

Messrs TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen caused problems throughout, as Fennelly was the focal point of the attack, bagging a second goal before the break to stretch the half-time lead to five.

Aided by the wind, Ballyhale pulled clear after the break, and romped home in style. Eoin Cody, Patrick Mullen and Brian Cody were tormentors-in-chief as the 2013 champions went 15 minutes without a score.

Ultimately, Ballyhale's class told as they recorded a dominant 17-point victory.

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Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

Scorers for Ballyhale: Colin Fennelly 2-4, TJ Reid 0-10 (0-6 frees), Adrian Mullen 0-4, Brian Cody 0-3, Patrick Mullen 0-2, Eoin Cody 0-2, Mark Aylward 0-1, Evan Shefflin 0-1, Richie Reid 0-1.

Scorers for St Thomas': Darragh Burke 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Conor Cooney 1-1 (1-0 penalty), David Burke 1-0, Brendan Farrell 0-1, James Regan 0-1, Bernard Burke 0-1.

Ballyhale Shamrocks

1. Dean Mason

2. Darren Mullen

3. Joseph Holden

4. Brian Butler

5. Evan Shefflin

6. Michael Fennelly

9. Richie Reid

7. Patrick Mullen

8. Ronan Corcoran

10. Brian Cody

11. TJ Reid

12. Adrian Mullen

13. Eoin Reid

14. Colin Fennelly

15. Eoin Cody

Subs:

Mark Aylward for Eoin Reid (42nd minute)

Conor Walsh for Ronan Corcoran (54th minute)

Kevin Mullen for Darren Mullen (58th minute)

Joseph Cuddihy for Eoin Cody (58th minute)

Gavin Butler for Michael Fennelly (60th minute)

St Thomas'

1. Gerald Murray

2. Cian Mahoney

3. Cathal Burke

4. Seán Skehill

5. Donal Cooney

6. Shane Cooney

7. Fintan Burke

8. James Regan

9. David Burke

11. Darragh Burke

14. Conor Cooney

10. David Sherry

12. Bernard Burke

13. Brendan Farrell

17. Damien McGlynn

Subs:

Mark Caulfield for Fintan Burke (50th minute)

Colin Fallon for James Regan (53rd minute)

Cian Kelly for for David Sherry (57th minute)

Damien Finnerty for Damien McGlynn (60th minute)