Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 4-18 Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin) 0-18 Goal hungry Ballyhale Shamrocks continued their search for back-to-back AIB Leinster Senior Hurling Championship titles thanks to a 12-point victory over Ballyboden St Enda's at Nowlan Park this afternoon. It was a quartet of three-pointers which proved vital with the Kilkenny outfit sharp in front of the posts. Quick-fire attacking movements resulted in all four goals being leaked by the St Enda's defence. The South Kilkenny side certainly looked sharper throughout as their experience shone through, with quick-fire goals at the beginning of each half from Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid proving vital. But hurling-football double chasers Ballyboden responded strongly with a succession of four unanswered points from freetaker Paul Ryan to push them 0-4 to 1-0 ahead in the eighth minute. However James McGarry's charges upped the anti with top-scorer Henry Shefflin letting his hurling do the talking with a well-taken 13th minute goal after he shook off the challenge of Stephen Perkins. Shefflin's goal pushed his side into a 2-1 to 0-4 lead, with Ballyboden forced to dig deep for a 17th minute point from David Curtin. But Ballyhale continued to fire with an Eoin Reid goal powering them to a 3-8 to 0-13 interval advantage. A fourth Ballyhale goal from the stick of TJ Reid arrived inside 30 seconds of the restart with Kilkenny champions opening up an eight-point lead inside two minutes of the restart following a score from TJ's brother Eoin. The Shamrocks went on to score four of the next five points with Fitzpatrick, Shefflin and TJ Reid on target, with their side looking likely winners at this stage. Ballyboden attempted to strengthen their challenge with the introduction of James Doody and Darragh Spain. Although Liam Hogan's charges tried hard with Spain, Conal Keaney and David Sweeney giving their all - Ballyhale's experience ensured their qualified for their third Leinster final in four years. Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: H Shefflin 1-6 (4f, 1 65); E Reid 1-3; TJ Reid 1-2; C Fennelly 1-0; J Fitzpatrick, P Reid 0-2 each; M Fennelly, D Hoyne, M Aylward 0-1 each. Scorers for Ballyboden St Enda's: P Ryan 0-8 (5f, 3 65); D Sweeney 0-4 (1 s/l); C Keaney 0-2; M Travers, D Curtin, N McMorrow, E Carroll 0-1 each. Ballyhale Shamrocks - J Connolly; A Cuddihy, A Cummins, P Holden; P Shefflin, E Walsh, B Aylward; J Fitzpatrick, M Fennelly; TJ Reid, H Shefflin, C Fennelly; P Reid, E Reid, D Hoyne. Subs: M Aylward for C Fennelly (49); K Nolan for Cuddihy (53); B Costelloe for E Reid (53). Ballyboden St Endas - G Maguire; J Duffy, S Perkins, M O'Sullivan; S Hiney, T Sweeney, M Travers; S Durkin, C McCormack; D Sweeney, D Curtin, C Keaney; P Ryan, S Lambert, N McMorrow. Subs: D O'Connor for T Sweeney (15); J Doody for Durkin (47); D Spain for Ryan (49); E Carroll for C McCormack (50). Ref - Barry Kelly (Westmeath) Tweet

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