Hurling Wins For Ballyhale, De La Salle And Shamrocks

In the All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday, there were provincial wins for Ballyhale Shamrocks and De La Salle.

In Leinster, the Kilkenny champions were expected to take care of Offaly winners Birr with little difficulty, and though it was comfortable enough, it was far from a one-sided contest.

Goals from TJ Reid and Eoin Reid as well as five points from Henry Shefflin set the tone in the opening half. Birr did cut the deficit to four points at one stage in the second half, before the latter ensured a 2-13 to 1-11 win for Shamrocks at Nowlan Park.

It was a much closer contest at Semple Stadium, where just two points separated De La Salle and Limerick representatives, Adare.

The Waterford champions won by a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-10, with crucial second-half scores from talisman John Mullane and Thomas Kearney proving crucial as the eventual winners came back from a five-point deficit at the interval.

In the Ulster Senior Football Championship final, Ballinderry of Derry took on Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh at Brewster Park and it turned out to be an absorbing encounter.

'Cross' looked as though they would prevail for much of the game, with Oisin McConville's tally of 1-2 keeping them in front until late on.

Aaron Kernan also pointed twice for the defending champions, while Colin Devlin's six points kept Ballinderry in touch.

Devlin's team only trailed by a single goal with time running out, and it was Niall McCusker who blasted home to make it 1-10 apiece and force a replay for the title. Elsewhere, there was also late drama in Kerry's SFC county final replay.

A point from David Moran seemed to have ensured a two-point win for Kerins O'Rahillys after a finely balanced contest.

However, Mid Kerry were awarded a late penalty, which Aidan O'Shea - son of Kerry legend Jack O'Shea - scored to secure a single-point 1-7 to 0-9 victory.

Elsewhere, Emyvale of Monaghan became the first side from their county to claim the VHI Healthcare All-Ireland Club Ladies Intermediate Football title, courtesy of a 3-6 to 1-2 victory over Ballingeary-Inchigeela of Cork.