Leinster Club SHC: Fennelly on form for Ballyhale

November 18, 2018

Ballyhale Shamrocks' Colin Fennelly on his way to scoring his side's second goal against Naomh Eanna

Colin Fennelly bagged 4-4 as Ballyhale Shamrocks overcame a sluggish start against Naomh Eanna to qualify for the Leinster Club SHC decider.

The Henry Shefflin managed side finished with 16 points to spare (6-21 to 4-11) over their hosts at Innovate Wexford Park.

Two goals inside the opening eight minutes from Cathal Dunbar had given the first time Wexford champions the ideal start but the Kilkenny standard bearers fought back to take a 2-9 to 2-6 lead into the break.

Eoin Reid and Fennelly raised green flags in the opening 30 minutes and an early second-half double from Fennelly heaped the pressure on Naomh Eanna.

An Eoin Cody three pointer subsequently boosted the visitors into an unassailable 5-13 to 2-7 lead by the 42nd minute and Fennelly added his fourth goal two minutes from the end of normal time.

Jack Cullen netted for the Enniscorthy men in the second-half but it’s Ballyhale who advance to the provincial showpiece.

Ballyhale Shamrocks - D Mason; C Walsh, J Holden, B Butler; E Shefflin (0-1), M Fennelly, D Mullen (0-1); R Corcoran (0-1), R Reid (0-1); A Mullen (0-3), TJ Reid (0-6, 1f, 1'65), B Cody (0-2); E Reid (1-0), C Fennelly (4-4), E Cody (1-1). Subs: G Butler for C Walsh, M Aylward for E Reid, J Cuddihy (0-1) for A Mullen, K Mullen for B Butler, P Mullen for M Fennelly.

Naomh Eanna - B Kinsella; T Stafford, B Travers, L Kinsella; J Cullen (1-2), S Doyle, E Conroy; A Doyle, G Molloy; C McGuckin, P Doyle (0-6, 3f, 1'65), D Hughes; D O'Brien, C McDonald (1-0pen), C Dunbar (2-3). Subs: J Cushe for L Kinsella, W Cullen for D Hughes, C Hughes for D O'Brien.

Referee - J McGrath.


Most Read Stories