1 point win secures final berth for city side
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship Semi Finals
O’Loughlin Gaels 1-20, Mullinavat 2-16
There was no quarter given at headquarters in the first of the semifinals as O’Loughlin Gaels got over the line by the bare minimum against a brilliant Mullinavat team, who certainly ‘died with their boots on’ at UPMC Nowlan Park. In a game of great skill, non-stop action and huge physical clashes, it was Brian Hogan’s outfit that secured their place in the county final with Jordan Molloy outstanding for the St John’s Park side.
Mullinavat opened the scoring in the first minute, following a wide from Luke Hogan. A short restart found Liam Fennelly who sent the ball to Joe Gahan, and the midfielder powered forward before splitting the posts from ‘65 out. Brian Hogan’s men levelled matters immediately, a nice score from the impressive Fionan Mackessy off his left side. Shortly after, the Loughs broke forward, and Conor Kelly raced clear before striking his shot into the ground on the angle, but Sean Fitzpatrick was more than equal to it. As the Vat cleared the ball out of defence, Liam Fennelly took a great catch before powering forward, only to be fouled, which gave John Walsh the opportunity to open his account in the semifinal from about 47 metres out via the placed ball.
A long clearance down field from Stephen Murphy saw Fionan Mackessy claim possession, and despite losing his hurl, he was able to pop a pass to Luke Hogan who powered away from Tom Aylward before shortening his grip to bat over. Jordan Molloy then burst forward, and a cluster of Vat players prevented him from raising a green flag as the ball trickled behind for a ‘65, which Mark Bergin converted. Then came a big moment in the game. Brian Phelan flicked a hand pass to Mick Malone who got a nudge in the back from Jordan Molloy, penalty was the decision of Fenians referee Owen Beehan, John Walsh stepped up and blasted his shot past Stephen Murphy in the O’Loughlin’s goal. The 2023 champions didn’t let this rock them, instead they replied with a major of their own. Paddy Deegan played a lovely ball out of defence which found Owen Wall. The nippy forward turned Robin Davis and raced towards goal before unleashing a fierce shot on the angle which gave Sean Fitzpatrick no chance. O’Loughlin’s ahead by the bare minimum after 11 minutes of end-to-end action at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Colm O’Byrne’s men got the next score; Paidi Gahan sent the ball down field and Mick Malone picked it up and got away from Eoin O’Shea before popping the ball over the bar. Mark Bergin then converted a placed ball after Ger Malone took one to many swipes at the on running O’Shea. Some great blocking from Conor Kelly then gave Mark Bergin the chance to split the posts from play and this put the St John’s Park side 2 ahead. Ger Malone then got a point after some good closing down by his teammates. Some nice movement from Owen Wall saw him collect the ball and off load to Conor Kelly and the result was a lovely point from out the field. The next point also came from The Loughs. Luke Hogan and Tom Aylward battled for possession under the old stand, and it was the intercounty panelist that won the battle before striking over from tight to the sideline.
The next point came from lovely direct team play by O’Loughlin Gaels. Paddy Deegan burst out of defence and passed to Conor Kelly whose first thought was to spray the ball into space for Owen Wall to run onto. Wall did just that and passed the ball across the pitch towards Luke Hogan. Hogan popped a short pass to the supporting Mark Bergin who fired over for another tidy score. Some good defensive work from Luke Hogan saw him close down the Vegas Boys as they tried to get up the field and the bustling forward’s pressure brought a free which the deadly Bergin converted to push the lead to four points.
The Vat needed a score, and they got one courtesy of Ian Duggan, who rifled over off his left side after taking a pass from Joe Gahan. Brian Hogan’s charges hit back straight away, Conor Heary finding Jordan Molloy in space and the wing back sent over a booming score from halfway to the cheers of the O’Loughlin’s supporters in attendance. If that score brought a cheer, the next one brought applause. Eoin O’Shea and Conor Heary exchanged passes before the former found Luke Hogan who struck over from about 60 metres out to extend the lead to five points at the short whistle.
After a little bit of ‘jockeying’ the 2nd half got underway, and Mullinavat got the scoreboard moving, thanks to a lovely score from Ger Malone after he had gotten Mikey Butler out of his way! From Stephen Murphy’s restart the ball was moved to Jordan Molloy who gave a pass to Conor Heary. Mark Bergin came round on the loop took the ball and slotted it between the posts to add another score to his tally. John Walsh got his sides second score of the half from a placed ball as the men in black and white tried to claw their way back into the game but once again, O’Loughlin’s tagged on another placed ball to maintain their superiority.
John Walsh tapped over another free after he was fouled by Ronan Buckley, the gap was down to four again. A well worked Sideline cut from Ian Duggan saw the ball moved to Brian Phelan who split the posts from close range to eat away at the Loughs lead. Another pinpoint restart from Stephen Murphy picked out Fionan Mackessy who cut inside before striking over, a quality score. The next score came from Robbie Buckley, who jinked one way before turning and firing over from an acute angle. The Vat responded, John Walsh swiveling before firing over from distance before the same player struck over a booming free from his own half to make it a 3-point game. Some more strong running from Jordan Molloy saw the county man give a pass to Jack Nolan and the midfielder got his name on the scoresheet.
Jack Nolan then turned provider, passing to the all-action Mackessy who fired over from 65 out to reclaim the 5-point lead. Then came a crucial score for the south Kilkenny side. A searching delivery into the Loughs defence caused a little panic and as bodies gathered near the goal, Mick Malone somehow managed to kick the sliotar over the line, in what appeared to be slow motion, it was game on in UPMC Nowlan Park. After a little schemozzle, referee Beehan gave a free to the Loughs, and Mark Bergin did the rest. Eoin O’Shea then took a couple too many steps and John Walsh tagged on another score. From the puck out, Murphy found Ronan Buckley, who played the ball down the line to Molloy. Jordan picked out Robbie Buckley, who showed a nice bit of skill to create the space to fire over.
John Walsh then sent over another cracking placed ball from his own half to bring it back to a 2-point game. Another big moment arrived with the game in stoppage time. Owen wall appeared to take a belt to the head, which incensed the O’Loughlin’s management. With mentors on the pitch, the game was halted and having consulted with his linesman, Owen Beehan Showed George O’Connor a red card. With the Vegas Boys seeking a defining score, Huw Lawlor, once more emerged with the ball and won a free on the sideline under the old stand. Fionan Mackessy stepped up and split the posts from halfway to nudge his side 3 ahead. From Fitzpatrick’s restart the ball broke to sub Adam Mansfield who popped over the score to leave two between the sides. The Vat attacked once more, this time a free was called. With a serious number of bodies between John Walsh and the goal he struck his effort with venom, but it rose just over the crossbar, the gap was the bare minimum, but time was not to be their friend, as Owen Beehan sounded the long whistle. Some battle; some game. Final Score, O’Loughlin Gaels 1-20, Mullinavat 2-16.
O’Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (0-8, 4fs and 1 ’65); Fionan Mackessy (0-4, 1f); Owen Wall (1-0); Luke Hogan (0-3); Robbie Buckley (0-2); Jack Nolan, Conor Kelly, Jordan Molloy (0-1 each)
Mullinavat: John Walsh (1-9, 8fs); Mick Malone (1-1); Ger Malone, Joe Gahan (0-2 each); Brian Phelan, Adam Mansfield (0-1 each)
