Despite a spectacular display from Stephen O'Keeffe, Shamrocks celebrated a revenge victory over Ballygunner in the All Ireland club semi final at a bitterly cold Croke Park this evening (1-16 to 0-16).
Man of the match O'Keeffe made four super saves for the Gunners but TJ Reid beat him at the fifth time of asking from a 49th minute penalty. The former hurler of the year finished with 1-8 as Pat Hoban's side made amends for the final defeat back in February. Eoin Cody's move to wing forward paid dividends with two second half points.
O'Keeffe denied Adrian Mullen twice in the first half before he saved from Evan Shefflin and stopped Reid's first penalty. Dessie Hutchinson battled to the end with four points from play. Dean Mason knocked his goalbound effort out for a 65.
Shamrocks raced three points up after three minutes. TJ Reid tapped over two frees before Joey Cuddihy added one from play. Dessie Hutchinson hit Ballygunner's opener. The Kilkenny men lost Darren Mullen to injury after five minutes.
Long range points followed from Conor Sheahan and Ronan Power. Hutchinson's second levelled it all four all. Stephen O'Keeffe blocked a bullet shot from Adrian Mullen in the tenth minute. Fennelly flicked over the rebound (0-5 to 0-4). Shamrocks then lost Joey Cuddihy to injury.
Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald sent the Gunners 7-5 in front. Adrian Mullen, Paddy Mullen and TJ Reid replied for Shamrocks. Two more Mahony points and Fitzgerald's second made it 10-8 to the defending champions.
On 28 minutes, O'Keeffe dived full length to stop a Mullen shot that seemed destined for the bottom corner. Late points from Ronan Corcoran and Eoin Kenneally tied it up for the fifth time at the break (0-11 each).
Ballygunner missed three chances at the start of the second period. Mahony nailed a free on 38 minutes. Eoin Cody moved to wing forward and struck back to back points.
O'Keeffe made his third save of the evening from Evan Shefflin. Colin Fennelly was then fouled by Philip Mahony for a Shamrocks penalty. O'Keeffe somehow denied TJ Reid. A minute later, Shane O'Sullivan brought down Reid for another penalty. Reid buried it down the middle. At the fifth time of asking, O'Keeffe was beaten (1-14 to 0-13). In front of Hill 16, Dean Mason got down to deflect Hutchinson's low shot around the post. Reid extended the gap to five with eight minutes left.
Points from Kevin Mahony and Hutchinson set up a grandstand finish. Colin Fennelly missed an injury time goal chance but the Gunners couldn't force extra time at the other end. Their first defeat in 24 competitive outings.
