Bright young charges power Gaels through
O'Loughlin Gaels 1-14 (17pts) Tullaroan 1-11 (14pts)
The scorers -
O'Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (1-2); Alan Geoghegan (0-4, 0-1 65); Nigel Skehan (0-4, all frees);
Jimmy Comerford, Martin Comerford, Kevin Morrissey, Mark Kelly (0-1 each).
Tullaroan: Eamon Brennan (1-1); Jimmy Coogan (0-4, 0-2 frees); Tommy Walsh (0-3);
Stephen Dowling (0-2); Shane Hennessy (0-1, pen).
GETTING the right mix of youth and experience helped O'Loughlin Gaels get their new senior hurling campaign off to a winning start on Friday.
With a number of CBS starlets making the starting line-up, plus a few more graduates from the club's minor grade, there was a fresh look about the city side.
However, there was also an abundance of steel in the key positions, just what they needed to shake off a dogged Tullaroan in Kilmanagh in this first round league clash.
In a game where the sides were level eight times, it was the constant running of the John's parish side that proved to be the difference. Their players were willing to dash that extra yard, move into positions that offered better passing options, and exhibited a drive that helped them over the line.
Change in gears
Leading by the narrowest of margins at the break (0-7 to 0-6), a change in gears saw O'Loughlin's ease their way into a commanding position. Much of that was provided by a piece of individual wonder from
Mark Bergin, which arrived five minutes after the restart.
Moving out from the corner to collect a long Ollie Blanchfield puck-out, Bergin showed good footwork to get race along the sideline before turning towards the posts.
Many would have expected him to switch play to the unmarked Martin Comerford on the edge of the square the Tullaroan backs included but Bergin went for broke, firing a searing shot past 'keeper Richie Holland.
Tullaroan's response was to hit back with a Jimmy Coogan free (he also picked off the first score of the half), but the Gaels were quick to stretch their advantage again. Sub Jimmy Comerford put three back between the sides before Martin Comerford and Alan Geoghegan linked some well-worked passes together for Bergin to swing over another point.
Not done for
While county team-mates Tommy Walsh and Martin Comerford traded scores, O'Loughlin's seemed to be comfortably ahead - but Tullaroan were not done for just yet.
With both sides using the opening exchanges of the game to blow away the cobwebs it was no surprise that scores were thin on the ground, the teams sharing the opening four points. The chances were there, but O'Loughlin's found that their shooting still needed a little polish.
Much like buses, the Gaels waited long enough for one goal chance only to see two come along almost at once. The first saw Mark Bergin latch on to a low crossfield ball and turn his marker in one swift move. With only the 'keeper to beat, Bergin went for power, but saw his shot fizz just over the bar. Sixty seconds later, the second chance presented itself when Bergin flicked a long Brian Hogan clearance into Martin Comerford's path. The full-forward dashed clear and drew Holland from his line, but his shot flashed across goal and stayed out.
Spurned chance
Tullaroan came back into the game after those scares, and spurned a good goal chance of their own after the impressive Martin Walsh was hauled down in the square. Half-back Shane Hennessy took the penalty, but saw his shot turned over the bar by goalkeeper Ollie Blanchfield.
That disappointment was shrugged off when Stephen Holland lashed over Tullaroan's fifth point of the evening, but the Gaels didn't take long to counter. Three frees from Nigel Skehan gave them the advantage by the break, but that was halved by an excellent Tommy Walsh score from distance in the closing seconds (0-7 to 0-6).
Having fought their way back into the game in the first half, Tullaroan did it all over again in the second. Trailing by four points, they turned the game on its head in a matter of minutes in the final quarter.
A moment of hesitancy in the Gaels ranks gave Tullaroan their way back into the game. After David Dowling dropped a teasing ball towards the posts, Eamon Brennan profited after the O'Loughlin's defence dropped back - a deft flick, and the net bulged.
All square
It was all square by the 49th minute as Stephen Dowling slotted over the levelling point, the score made by the industrious Martin Walsh. Both teams traded scores once more through Kevin Morrissey (OLG) and Jimmy Coogan (T) but, when it mattered, the Gaels had that extra gear.
Just when it looked like they'd have to settle for just one point, O'Loughlin's hit back with a late surge to grab all three.
Pinned into the corner by a Tullaroan charge, O'Loughlin's worked the ball clear when Brian Murphy found team captain Brian Hogan with a quick pass. Hogan's clearance was worked on by Martin Comerford to Mark Kelly, who sprinted away before pointing comfortably.
That string of well-worked passes was just how the Gaels had played all evening. Further scores from Alan Geoghegan, the second a 65 converted from close to the sideline, and the win was theirs.
Best for the winners were defensive pairing Brian Hogan and Sean Dowling, while Alan Geoghegan revelled in the forwards. Tullaroan were best served by busy full-back Michael Maher and half-back David Dowling, who cleared a lot of breaking ball, while Martin Walsh's fielding was impressive.
The teams
O'Loughlin Gaels - O. Blanchfield, B. Kelly, S. Dowling, A. Kearns, A. O'Brien, B. Hogan, B. Murphy,
K. Morrissey, P. Dowling, M. Kelly, A. Geoghegan, S. Cummins, M. Bergin, M. Comerford, N. Skehan. Subs: J. Comerford for P. Dowling, B. Dowling for Skehan.
Tullaroan - R. Holland, P. Campion, M. Maher, P. Kennedy, D. Dowling, E. Campion, S. Hennessy,
K. Coogan, R. Butler, S. Dowling, T. Walsh, E. Brennan, N. Maher, J. Coogan, Martin Walsh.
Subs: B. Cahill for Kennedy, Mark Walsh for K. Coogan.
Referee: D. O'Sullivan (John Lockes).
Report John Knox "Kilkenny People" |
