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Leinster Club SHC – Ballyhale Shamrocks v Clough-Ballacolla
In Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, at 1.30pm
The Leinster Club SHC semi-final in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, pits Laois champions Clough-Ballacolla and Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Ballyhale Shamrocks are the all time leading Leinster winning side with 12 titles to their name.
While Clough-Ballacolla have only reached a final once and that was back in 2021.
Getting to play in Croke Park was a momentous occasion for the club but the result was not one that is remembered fondly as they lost to the aforementioned Kilkenny side by 27 points.
Manager Willie Hyland started at midfield that day while current selector Mick McEvoy was centre back.
Both are obviously no longer playing at this level but aside from them, Clough-Ballacolla still have the majority of the team who played four years ago available.
They defeated Camross to win Laois and then got the better of Castletown-Geoghegan in the Leinster quarter final.
They were outsiders with the bookies that day and are even longer odds today.
Stephen Maher didn’t play against the Westmeath champions as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury but could feature here as he did in the Laois final.
They will however continue to be without Jordan Walshe who sustained a serious injury before their last game.
Ballyhale have been a rejuvenated force this year under Henry Shefflin, especially their veterans at either end of the pitch, Joey Holden and TJ Reid, who are both playing as well as ever.
The suspension of Adrian Mullen is a blow, but Reid, Eoin Cody, Niall Shortall, and Paddy Mullen still give them formidable firepower.
It will take a mammoth effort from Clough-Ballacolla to turn them over.
Laois U-20 HC – The Harps v Abbeyleix
In Durrow at 11.30am
The progression of Laois clubs in Leinster competitions has had an impact on Laois U-20 competitions but fixture makers are getting games played where they can.
The Laois U-20 A Hurling Championship is down to semi final stage and the first of those takes place in Durrow this morning.
The Harps are bidding for an incredible four Laois U-20s in a row and they will take on Abbeyleix.
They come here with a 100% record following big wins over Clough-Ballacolla, Camross and Borris-Kilcotton.
And with the likes of Bobby Murphy, Ciaran Flynn, Eoghan Murphy, Tony Mahony, Ross Deegan, Eoin Delaney, Mark Downey, Liam Kirby and Justin Duggan, they look formidable.
Abbeyleix reached this stage after finishing as runners up in Group A.
They lost to Castletown but qualified following wins over Rathdowney-Errill and Ballyfin-Mountrath.
Jack Finlay, Eli Quinn, Stephen O’Donnell and Cormac Byrne all hurled senior this year for Abbeyleix while Dan Jones shone with the Laois minors.
Abbeyleix will ask questions of The Harps but the home side should have enough.
SEE ALSO – South-Leinster Colleges SFC ‘B’: 100% record maintained as Portlaoise CBS score big win in Wexford
