Dingle end 77-year wait for Kerry SFC title as Ballyhale Shamrocks win Kilkenny SHC

It was another busy day in the GAA club championships

The 42

Loughmacrory 0-18

Trillick 2-11

(Tyrone SFC Final)

YOU’LL NEVER SEE a sight like the Loughmacrory fans fizzing onto the Healy Park pitch, flares a go-go, flags dancing in the night sky, to greet their heroes that won their first ever Tyrone senior championship after a deserved victory over Trillick.

When Trillick drew level with just eight minutes of normal time remaining, the script seemed written. With just one point from the 33rd minute to the 57th, Loughmacrory were listing, the exertions of their two-game saga against parish neighbours Carrickmore looking like they were cooked.

But up stepped Eoin McElholm to create something out of nothing. A strong run and a lay-off to Gareth Donaghy to point to edge them into the lead once more. From that point on, Trillick simply could not get their hands on the ball. Loughmacrory are the latest of the romantic stories.

ruairi-mccullagh-celebrates Loughmacrory fans celebrate. John McVitty / INPHO John McVitty / INPHO / INPHO

Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-18

O’Loughlin Gaels 0-12

(Kilkenny SHC Final)

Ballyhale Shamrocks are the Kilkenny senior hurling champions for the first time since 2022 after they outgunned O’Loughlin Gaels in a surprisingly one sided county final at UPMC Nowlan Park.

A devastating second-half display set Henry Shefflin’s men on their way with their 21st county title moving them to the top of the Kilkenny SHC Roll of Honour ahead of Tullaroan.

ballyhale-shamrocks-team-celebrates The victorious Ballyhale Shamrocks team. James Lawlor / INPHO James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO

Loughmore-Castleiney 2-22

Nenagh Éire Óg 1-22

(Tipperary SHC Final)

DAFT PUNK’S ONE More Time blared at the final whistle as Loughmore-Castleiney secured their sixth Dan Breen Cup and first successful defence of the Tipperary SHC title against Nenagh Éire Óg.

Both sides coughed up goals to long-range frees, but it was Liam McGrath who struck the killer blow in the 48th minute in front of 6,073 fans at Semple Stadium. The back-to-back winning captain added man-of-the-match honours for his 1-3 tally.

liam-mcgrath-lifts-the-cup Loughmore-Castleiney’s Liam McGrath lifts the cup. Paul Barrett / INPHO Paul Barrett / INPHO / INPHO

St Finbarr’s 1-14

Nemo Rangers 1-13

(Cork Premier SFC Final)

Cillian Myers Murray is the man, and St Finbarr’s are the kings of Cork football for the 11th time after they edged their great rivals from Trabeg in a super Cork Premier Senior Football Final played in Pairc Uí Chaoimh this afternoon.

Four times the Barrs had come up short against Nemo at the final hurdle but a Myers Murray point in the 62nd minute put them ahead, and defensive resolve coupled with a Conor Horgan effort that hit the post got them over the line.

ian-maguire-celebrates-after-the-game-with-steven-sherlock-and-cillian-myers-murray St Finbarr's players celebrate at the final whistle. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Dingle 2-13

Austin Stacks 1-12

(Kerry SFC Final)

Paul Geaney was the hero of the hour in the Kerry county SFC final on a miserable afternoon, with the Kerry footballer netting two late goals to deliver a long-awaited county championship to Dingle.

Seventy-seven years, in fact, since the senior championship title last visited the West Kerry town, and if Dingle needed a hero then Geaney was the man to deliver.