O’Loughlin Gaels 3.16
James Stephens 3.05 O’Loughlin Gaels added the Under 14 Roinn A League title to the Paddy Grace Kilkenny Feile na nGael title already won this year, when they beat James Stephens in a final full of skill and superb scores, played at beautiful Bennettsbridge last Monday evening.The St. John’s men started the scoring after five minutes and indeed scored four points through Eoin Neary, Eoin Wall and the superb Ben Maher before the Village replied. And reply they did, through, 6’4 Robert Butler, who grabbed two long range balls to convert them into a goal and a point. The Village backs were finding life difficult against the flying O’Loughlins forwards. Corner forwards,Eoin Wall scored a goal and a point and Ben Maher tapped over a free to put the ‘Loughs five ahead coming close to twenty minutes. Ryan Scanlon pointed a free for James Stephens which was followed soon after by another goal from the big man Robert Butler who was the target man for the Larchfield outfit and was causing major problems for the O’Loughlins defence. The lively Jamie O Keeffe threw over two good points for the Village either side of a brace of converted frees from the unerring Ben Maher. Half time score O’Loughlin Gaels 1.8 James Stephens 2.4.The second half started as frantic as the first had ended. Young Butler for the Village pointed after four minutes but the red and green were not to score again for 18 minutes . It was all white and green as the O’Loughlins forward line let loose and played some fantastic hurling. Full forward Adam Flynn cut loose on 37 minutes and popped over a point after a good run.He scored another ten minutes later. The ace free taker ,Ben Maher, scored three frees (never missing one) as well as a goal and a point from play.Hard working midfielder Ronan Buckley was rewarded with his efforts when scoring a long range point on 20 minutes. This was an excellent display of forward play but none was as exciting to watch as the goal and point taken by the flying Eon Wall in corner forward. This ten minute spell yielded O’Loughlins 1.7 and left the score 2.15 to 2.4 with 8 minutes to go.The main threat for James Stephens, Robert Butler,scored his third goal to leave the Village with some hope but this was soon quashed when man of the match Ben Maher crashed home a goal with a minute remaining. The last score of the game, fittingly, went to Ben Maher who pointed a long range free to leave the final score O’Loughlin Gaels 3.16 James Stephens 3.5O’Loughlins will be delighted with the victory in the league final as James Stephens had beaten them in an earlier league match. They had excellent performers in goalkeeper David McCormack, Shane O Reilly, John Delaney, Jordan Molloy, Ian Clifford, Ronan Buckley and their complete set of six forwards. James Stephens will look forward to the championship and had great performers in Luke Murphy at full back,Niall Brassil at centre back, half forward Jason O Keeffe and big full forward Robert Butler.O’Loughlin Gaels; David McCormack, Shane O Reilly, John Delaney, Mikey Butler, Ian Clifford, Jordan Molloy, Luke Hogan,Ronan Buckley, Eoin O Shea, Eoin Neary, Ryan Poyntz, Dacel Fwamba, Eoin Wall,Adam Flynn, Ben Maher. Subs Barry Lawlor, Jamie Ryan, Sean Kenny, Patrick Nolan.James Stephens; Sean Minogue, Mickey Byrne, Luke Murphy, Shane Murphy, Eric Kearney, Niall Brassil, Ross Whelan, Sam Hickey, Jason O Keeffe, Cillian Duffy, Ryan Scanlon, Cian Kenny, Robert Butler, Sean Breathnach.
By Mary Morgan Tue 13th Aug
