Successful Day for Kilkenny County and Club Teams

By Mary Morgan Sun 30th Jan

It was a successful day all round for Kilkenny teams as the County Senior side secured a place in the Walsh Cup Final by defeating Laois on a scoreline. O’Loughlin Gaels secured the AIB Leinster Senior Club title overcoming Oulart the Ballagh of Wexford with a late surge while Dicksboro defeated St. John’s of Antrim by 0-16 to 1-9 and John Lockes defeated Iniskeen of Monaghan 3-12 to 1-9 to qualify for the AIB All Ireland Intermediate and Junior Club Finals.

O’Loughlin Gaels 0-14 Oulart the Ballagh 1-8

Kilkenny champions O’Loughlin Gaels powered home in the concluding minutes to defeat Wexford’s Oulart-the Ballagh in the AIB Leinster SHC club decider at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow.

Mark Bergin, substitute Seamie Cummins and Brian Dowling all fired over points in the closing stages as the Kilkenny Couinty Champions came from behind to add a second provincial title to the one they won in 2003

The Wexford champions had enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges with inter-county player Rory Jacob scoring a goal for Oulart after five minutes following hesitancy in the winners defence and they went in at the break 1-04 to 0-06 ahead. Indeed the Oulart team should have been further ahead at the break as Jacob was to fire a penalty wide just before half time. Undeterred the Oulart men continued in strong fashion on the resumption and increased their lead. O’Loughlin’s showing all of their renowned resilience, clawed their way back into the game. When Lar Prendergast got his marching orders for a pull on Brian Dowling mid-way through the half, the initiative swung towards the victors. They finished strongly against a tiring Oulart team and can now look forward an All-Ireland semi-final date against Ulster champions Loughgiel Shamrocks next month.