Leinster Club SHC semi-final: O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 3-17 Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford) 0-17
SHOWING patience and composure, O’Loughlin Gaels hauled an earlier rampant Oulart-the-Ballagh in with some wonderful scores to eventually see off the reigning provincial champions with nine points to spare in Sunday's Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at Innovate Wexford Park.
Oulart-the-Ballagh manager Frank Flannery said he had no complaints with the result: "We enjoyed the ideal start, leading 0-9 to 1-1 after 18 minutes, but the concession of a second goal, which left us trailing by two points at the interval, saw frustration creeping in in the second half," he said.
"We set out our stall early on, but the Kilkenny champions really took over in the second-half. It was similar to the Kilkenny final, they completely suffocated us out of the game and there was little we could do. It’s frustrating, but the lads gave their all. On the day, it was simply just not good enough.’
While Oulart-the-Ballagh may have been frustrated, credit to O’Loughlin Gaels, who overcame a dreadful start being five points adrift after just 10 minutes. They kept their composure and, having laboured through that opening spell, they went on to take control of the game and there was never any doubt as to their superiority throughout the following 40 minutes.
"We took some heavy hits through that opening 20 minutes as Oulart-the-Ballagh hit us for nine points," said Gaels manager Aidan Fogarty.
"We laboured in that spell, but credit the lads, they played with passion and composure for the remainder of the game. We played some quality hurling through that second period, picked off some excellent scores, as the elements of our game came together. We are really satisfied with that result and now look forward to the final in two weeks' time."
The final scoreline had them nine points clear at the final whistle, but much of this can be attributed to Mark Bergin who finished the game with a personal tally of 1-8, 0-4 from frees. He teased and tormented the home defence and, coupled with the excellent point taking of veteran Martin Comerford, they had the losers defence labouring through the second 30 minutes.
Oulart-the-Ballagh with some well taken points from corner-forward Nicky Kirwan along with the accuracy of Garrett Sinnott and David Redmond led 0-5 to 0-0 after 10 minutes. O’Loughlin Gaels had to wait until two minutes later for their opening score a splendid Mark Kelly goal, shooting high to the net.
The Wexford champions still led 0-9 to 1-1 after 18 minutes, but then disaster struck the homeside when keeper Conor O’Leary allowed a speculative lob from Mark Bergin slip from his grasp to the net. The socre lit up the Kilkenny champions with finished the half with excellent points from Comerford and Bergin to astonishingly lead 2-6 to 0-10 at the interval.
"We were very disappointed going in at half-time two points down having led by five points 12 minutes before the break. We showed a lack of energy and urgency in the second-half, allowing our opponents to dictate the game on their terms," said Flannery.
After Peter Murphy and Mark Bergin had exchanged early second-half points, it was a fine David Redmond effort that had the sides level, 2-7 to 0-13, after 35 minutes. A fine Danny Loughnane point restored his sides lead, but they got the crucial breakthrough after 38 minutes. As Oulart-the-Ballagh tried to play the ball short out of defence, corner-forward Sammy Johnston got in the interception, raced through the defence to place a low shot beyond keeped Conor O’Leary giving his side a 3-8 to 0-13 lead.
While Oulart-the-Ballagh strove valiantly to get back into the game through Garrett Sinnott and David Redmond points, the visitors continued to control the game, and with the experienced Comerford, Mark Bergin and Mark Bergin continuing to pick off some excellent scores they gradually pulled away to engineer what was a highly impressive victory.
MATCH STATS
Oulart-the-Ballagh: C O’Leary; A Roche, K Rossiter, B Kehoe; D Morton, S Murphy, K Sheridan; D Redmond (0-2), E Moore; D Mythen (0-2), T Storey, P Murphy (0-1); R Jacob (0-1), G Sinnott (0-5), N Kirwan (0-4, 0-3 frees); Subs: M Jacob for Morton (26); M Óg Storey (0-1) for Sheridan (43); M Doyle for Mythen (44); B Dunne (0-1) for T Storey (46); N Redmond for P Murphy (51).
O’Loughlin Gaels: S Murphy; A Forristal, A Kearns, E Kearns; A O’Brien, B Hogan, H Lawlor (0-1); P Butler, P Deegan (0-2); A Geoghegan, M Kelly (1-1), D Loughnane (0-1); S Johnston (1-0), M Bergin (1-8, 0-4 frees), M Comerford (0-4); Subs: S Bolger for Johnston; S Mahony for Hogan (58); E Grant for Geoghegan (58); D Burke for Butler (60).
Referee: A Devine (Westmeath).
