Ballyhale Shamrocks outlast Kilcormac-Killoughey to win Leinster title

Kilkenny's finest, Ballyhale Shamrocks, are back on top of the Leinster hurling pile thanks to an extra-time victory over Kilcormac-Killoughey in Portlaoise.

TJ Reid fired ten points and Henry Shefflin added four as Ballyhale moved away to record an 0-21 to 1-14 triumph against the Offaly champions. The sides matched each other score for score in the opening period, Ballyhale taking a 0-7 to 0-6 advantage into the break, but a goal from Dan Currams put Kilcormac-Killoughey in front early in the second half. Man-of-the-match Reid brought Ballyhale back on terms and a series of misplaced balls by Ciaran Slevin prevented the Offaly men moving back in front. A superb Shefflin point looked set to win it until Slevin made amends with a last-minute free level things up at 1-11 to 0-14 and extend the game. Shefflin wasn't finished though, and he got on the scoresheet twice as Ballyhale opened up a four-point lead in extra time. That margin proved decisive and Ballyhale closed out their eighth Leinster title and first since 2009.