Ballyhale Shamrocks secured their first-ever four-in-a-row of Kilkenny SHC titles with a well-merited 1-14 to 1-11 win over James Stephens in a slightly disappointing county decider at Nowlan Park. Ballyhale went into the game as raging hot favourites but in front of just over 8,000 fans, they failed to engineer any worthwhile lead over their game opponents. James Stephens played with the strong breeze in the first half but laboured to take advantage of the elements in the sticky underground conditions. Indeed the Shamrocks were well on top in the possession stakes and as regards territorial advantage in the first half but they too struggled in the last third with Henry Shefflin being well-marshalled by county colleague Jackie Tyrell who also got time to rifle over an early point. The sides were deadlocked at 0-4 apiece in the run-up to the half-time break before excellent points from brothers Eoin and TJ Reid put Ballyhale two up at the interval. However Ballyhale weren't able to shake off their opponents thereafter and the biggest lead they managed was a miserly four points after Eoin Reid goaled. With three minutes left to play, the sides were level but then in a decisive move towards the chequered flag, TJ Reid, Shefflin and Colin Farrelly all grabbed vital points. Shefflin thought he had wrapped it all up for the Shamrocks late on but James Stephens' 'keeper Derek Brennan made a tremendous diving save. In the frantic late exchanges, chances went abegging at either side of the field as the defending champions resolutely held on for their historic win. Tweet

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