Sunday roundup

Kilkenny JHC: O’Loughlin’s juniors turn disappointment into joy with final victoryO’LOUGHLIN GAELS 1-17; CONAHY SHAMROCKS 1-15 

John Knox

20 Oct 2019

O’Loughlin Gaels turned a day that started with a disappointing defeat into one of celebration when they powered to a hard-earned win in the junior hurling championship final at UPMC Nowlan Park today. 

The Gaels were beaten in the senior hurling semi-final, but the juniors turned the mood right around when they won the third junior title for the club when proving too good for a game Conahy Shamrocks.

The breeze backed losers, with James Bergin and Tom Phelan letting rip, looked very good when opening out a commanding lead of 1-6 to 0-2 after 16 minutes. Bergin scored the goal.

The winners hit back during the following minutes for a point from Dacel Fwamba and an 18th minute goal from Jamie Ryan to jump right back into contention.

After the scores had been level at 1-8 each, Conahy landed a late point from a free by Bergin to lead by 1-9 to 1-8 at the break.

Conahy opened the second half with a point from James Bergin, but O’Loughlin’s drew level with a super point from a 95 metre free by Conor Kelly before sub Eoin Wall won them the lead for the first time in the 39th minute (1-12 to 1-11).

It was nip-and-tuck from there to the finish. O’Loughlin’s led all the way home, but the gap never went beyond two points as two evenly matched teams slogged it out to the final whistle.

As O’Loughlin’s are a second side from the club, they cannot represent the county in the Leinster club championship. Conahy will carry the Kilkenny hopes instead.

SCORERS: O’Loughlin Gaels – Conor Kelly (0-11); Jamie Ryan (1-2); Sammy Johnston (0-2); Dacel Fwamba, Eoin Wall (0-1 each). Conahy Shamrocks – James Bergin (1-9); Tom Phelan (0-3); Ed Delaney (0-2); Darragh Dooley (0-1).

Kilkenny SHC: Shamrocks scoring blast ends O’Loughlin’s seasonBALLYHALE SHAMROCKS 2-20; O’LOUGHLIN GAELS 1-14 

John Knox

20 Oct 2019

All-Ireland champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks hit O’Loughlin Gaels for 1-5 during the closing seven minutes of the opening half and that blast turned this Kilkenny senior hurling semi-final in UPMC Nowlan Park today.

When Shamrocks followed up with a goal from Adrian Mullen in the 32nd minute it was all over bar the shouting. The champions were on course for a meeting with James Stephens in the county final next Sunday.

The Gaels were flying early on, playing a lovely brand of fast, free flowing hurling. Thanks to a well taken goal after only 18 seconds from Danny Loughnane, and with Mark Bergin nailing every free, they looked extremely threatening when leading by 1-6 to 0-5 after 17 minutes when playing against the strong wind.

On 23 minutes Adrian Mullen snatched a point to keep the champions ticking over. However, when Eoin Cody intercepted a short pass from goalie Stephen Murphy to Paddy Deegan in the 28th minute  the Shamrocks man lobbed a lovely ball into the empty net.

The score was now 1-9 to 1-8 for the winners.

The Shamrocks turned on the scoring tap. Adrian Mullen pointed. TJ Reid landed a couple more as Shamrocks turned a one time three point deficit into a 1-12 to 1-8 lead during their golden scoring spell.

The losers had the opening score of the new half, a point from Mark Bergin. However, when Adrian Mullen got goal side of the losers defence to collect a ball broken by Joey Cuddihy before finishing to the net he put a mountain in front of the losers, who were now 2-13 to 1-9 down.

O’Loughlin’s never looked like getting back into real contention after that, never mind saving the game and they were well beaten in the end.

SCORERS: Ballyhale Shamrocks – TJ Reid (0-11); Adrian Mullen (1-4); Eoin Cody (1-0); Evan Shefflin, Ronan Corcoran, Paddy Mullen, Eoin Reid, Joey Cuddihy (0-1 each). O’Loughlin Gaels – Mark Bergin (0-11); Danny Loughnane (1-0); Luke Hogan, Robbie Buckley, Martin Comerford (0-1 each).