Former Kilkenny star Adrian Ronan previews the Kilkenny hurling semi-finals of Ballyhale Shamrocks v James Stephens and Dicksboro v O’Loughlin Gaels, and the relegation final.
Ballyhale Shamrocks have been in rude health of late after a stuttering start to the group stages of the Kilkenny championship.
OurGame chats with former Kilkenny star and Graigue-Ballycallan club man Adrian Ronan about how the back-to-back All-Ireland club champions may actually have found another level during this campaign
Last weekend, TJ Reid and Co put up 4-18 against Clara’s 0-11 in a thumping win at Nowlan Park, and this weekend they face the team they beat in last year’s county final: James Stephens.
The Village, managed by Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett, may have to do without Luke Scanlon after the attacker picked up an injury in the win over Mullinavat.
Ballyhale will be heavily fancied to make it back to the county final, with one of the other city sides set to join them.
O’Loughlin Gaels v Dicksboro both won by double-digit scores in their quarter-finals, against Bennettsbridge and Erin’s Own respectively.
The Boro put 3-27 on the Bridge, with Ronan explaining that their strength in depth means they are best placed to challenge the reigning champs.
Ronan talks about the relegation final between his native Graigue-Ballycallan, and a Danesfort side that he managed more than a decade ago.
He also looks ahead to the 2020 inter-county season where Kilkenny will look to regain an All-Ireland title that they lost won in 2015.
He speaks about his neigbour and fellow clubman, Eddie Brennan, who is the current manager of Laois and brought the O’Moore County to Nowlan Park during the 2020 league campaign.
Click play on the video at the top of the page to watch the discussion between Adrian Ronan and Shane Stapleton.
Kilkenny SHC semi-finals
Ballyhale v James Stephens
O’Loughlin Gaels v Dicksboro
Relegation final
Danesfort v Graigue-Ballycallan
Quarter-final results
Ballyhale Shamrocks 4-18 Clara 0-11
James Stephens 1-21 Mullinavat 1-16
Dicksboro 3-27 Bennettsbridge 2-14
O’Loughlin Gaels 2-14 Erin’s Own 0-10
Relegation semi-final results
Tullaroan 1-19 Danesfort 1-12
Rower-Inistioge 2-24 Graigue-Ballycallan 4-13 AET
