Tullaroan booked their place in their first senior final since 1994 with a 1-20 to 2-14 victory over Bennettsbridge. Two goals from Liam Blanchfield kept Bennettsbridge in contention, but Tullaroan held on to secure their place in the decider.
Speaking to KCLR, manager Dave Mulcahy admitted reaching a county final in his first season at senior level was a special achievement, having made the move to hurling management after working extensively with underage teams at his own club, James Stephens, and coming from a soccer background.
“It’s massive for me, you know, being honest. It was very fairytale stuff for me, heading to a county final my first year of senior hurling, coming from a different code.
“Everybody knows, obviously, I’ve done a lot of work out with my own club, James Stephens, underage, but not at this level. So it was a huge challenge for me.
“The boys have bought into everything that I’ve tried to do with them. There’s a nice freshness in the club, that freedom to go and hurl. They’re really enjoying it. You can see that, you can see that in the dressing room there, they’re really enjoying it.”
There is something of a Ted Lasso story about Mulcahy’s first season in charge, with a manager arriving from a different sporting background, earning the trust of his players and guiding them to a major final.
Standing in their way are defending champions Ballyhale Shamrocks, who edged out close neighbours Thomastown by 1-18 to 1-16 in the other semi-final.
TJ Reid finished with eight points, seven of them from frees, but it was Niall Shortall’s goal that proved decisive. Shortall struck shortly after John Donnelly had found the net for Thomastown, helping Ballyhale secure their place in another final.
The result sets up a meeting between two of Kilkenny’s most successful clubs. Tullaroan have won 20 county senior titles, while Ballyhale Shamrocks have claimed 21.
Tullaroan will now look to complete their remarkable run by ending a wait of more than three decades for another senior championship title, while Ballyhale aim to retain their crown.
