After an absence of four years, Ballyhale Shamrocks will return to Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day, as they look to claim to break their own record and claim a seventh All-Ireland Senior Hurling title.
Henry Shefflin's side were able to eventually grind down a spirited Ballygunner side with Eoin Cody's mid-way through the second-half proving the game-defining score.
URCHUR!!!
Cúl cinniúnach ag Eoin Cody do @BallyhaleGAA?@KilkennyCLG @gaaleinster #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/qFcv6f3RGx— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 9, 2019
In a nip and tuck first period, it was Ballygunner who would take the narrowest of leads into the Semple Stadium changing rooms at half time, with the stick of Pauric Mahoney to the fore, registering seven of eight white flags in the first half hour.
The Munster champions missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead early in the second half when a combination of Conor Power and Tim O'Sullivan were no match for the goalmouth mud, and they were made pay five minutes later when Cody found the back of Stephen O'Keefe's net.
Stuck in The Mud!!!
Deis cúl ag @ballygunnerHc ach tá sé sáite sa phluid!@WaterfordGAA @MunsterGAA @AIB_GAA #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/9Wlvor0CX2— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 9, 2019
The Kilkenny kingpins would stride clear of their near-neighbours in the final quarter, eventually running out 1-15 to 0-13 winners.
They will come up against St. Thomas of Galway in the March 17th finale after the Connacht champions snatched victory in the dying seconds of today's earlier encounter against Ruairí Ógs, Cushendall. David Sherry hit the winning score four minutes into added time after a rousing comeback from the Antrim side.
