Doherty masterminds final win as his side blow away Gaels
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC Final
Thomastown 0-18
O’Loughlin Gaels 0-7
UPMC Nowlan Park, Referee: David Hughes
Thomastown defied the odds to comprehensively dethrone O’Loughlin Gaels and claim their first senior county title in 78 years in testing conditions at a damp and breezy UPMC Nowlan Park. An 11-point victory certainly didn’t flatter the boys in blue as they tore into Brian Hogan’s outfit from the first whistle and were always ahead and in truth, never looked in any danger as they secured back-to-back titles at different grades on Noreside. Last weekend’s success all the sweeter, as Manager Doherty was watching from on high, due to his on going sideline suspension.
The Loughs made one late change with Conor Kelly coming in for Luke Hogan, while Paul Barron was between the sticks for the ‘Town after Diarmuid Galway failed to recover from injury.
Fittingly, it would be All-Star nominee John Donnelly that opened the scoring in the decider in the first minute, setting down a marker that Noel Doherty’s charges weren’t going to be overawed by the reigning county champions. The current All-Ireland Intermediate champions added to their opener with a fine score from the evergreen and hard-working John-Joe Farrell, who at 36 years of age demonstrated his importance to this Thomastown side. There were battles aplenty across UPMC Nowlan Park with players from both sides getting to know each other.
Thomastown were standing up to their opponents, Paddy Deegan knew early on that his side were in for a battle, taking a couple of big hits, and feeling them too as he tried to mark county teammate, John Donnelly. Fionán Mackessy was being shackled and hounded by Brian Staunton, and not being given the freedom that he perhaps had in previous rounds of this campaign. Brian Hogan’s outfit got off the mark, thanks to a lovely point from Owen Wall. Town midfielder Peter McDonald then created a goal opportunity for himself, cutting in along the endline before shooting across the front of goal, no doubt a let off for O’Loughlin’s.
Rory Connellan then got on the scoreboard striking over a great effort to edge his side two points ahead. The game was flowing, thanks to referee David Hughes, who in his first senior final was adding much to the game. The hugely influential John Donnelly then took advantage from a poor restart by Loughs netminder Stephen Murphy to notch his second score of the decider after 14 minutes of action at a damp and breezy UPMC Nowlan Park. John then turned provider, setting up Stephen Donnelly for a cracking point. Back from suspension, Lough captain, Mark Bergin got his team’s second score of the final after 18 minutes and the holders built on this with a classy point from Conor Heary, who sold his man a dummy before splitting the posts from distance.
Having conceded two on the trot, Thomastown hit back with a brace of their own, John Donnelly with his 3rd of the day and a placed ball from Robbie Donnelly. The O’Loughlin’s management team made a change and switched Mikey Butler onto the all-action all-scoring, John Donnelly to see if the tigerish corner back could restrict JD’s influence on the final. Stephen Donnelly then got his name noted by referee David Hughes for a robust challenge on Huw Lawlor.
Four points down, the Loughs went in search of a score and got one from play from captain Mark Bergin, after a lovely ball from Paddy Deegan to Owen Wall, who gave the pass to his skipper. The next score was a great one, and a Thomastown one. Robbie gave a nice pass to John Donnelly who raced clear. Despite the efforts of three opposition players, John shortened his grip and struck a classy wonderful point. Another marauding run from JD saw Fionán Mackessy foul the Town man and Robbie did the needful from the resulting free, to leave the scoreboard in UPMC Nowlan Park reading Thomastown 0-9, O’Loughlin Gaels 0-4.
Brian Hogan would have worried at his side’s showing in the opening period, having watched them be second to nearly every ball and being outfought and outmuscled. His players would have known that a fast start to the second half was vital as they sought to reel in the Thomastown lead, but their opponents weren’t about to rest on their laurels. Just two minutes into the half, John Donnelly played in Robbie and the latter split the posts. A couple of minutes later, another Donnelly, this time, Stephen rifled over a fantastic score to extend the ‘Towns lead to seven points.
The first change of the game came, the experienced Paddy Butler replacing Jack Nolan. Fionán Mackessy’s shadow, Brian Staunton then saw his name go into the referee’s book, but this didn’t deter the defender from his job. Young Colm Treacy then set up midfielder Peter McDonald for another great team score as the Thomastown faithful amongst the crowd of almost 9,500 dared to dream that their side was on the verge of delivering a first senior title since 1946. The next piece of action encapsulated Noel Doherty’s team. Zach Bay Hammond, who had been handed the task of looking after the perpetual motion figure of Conor Heary, put in a serious shoulder on his counterpart. Totally legal, totally committed, totally Thomastown.
Another change of personnel for O’Loughlin’s, the pacy Sammy Johnston entering the fray, replacing one of the many misfiring members of the attacking unit, Sean Bolger. Then came a big moment in the game. Loughs netminder Stephen Murphy pulled off an incredible save to dent Colm Treacy a certain goal from point bank range. Could this be the moment to shake the holders into action? With conditions worsening, semi-final POTM, Jamie Ryan stroked over a nice point, having been set up by Johnston. The underdogs, but now, certain favorites responded with a brace of placed balls from Robbie Donnelly. With the clock hitting 50 minutes, Owen Wall notched his second of the game, before Huw Lawlor intervened to prevent a green flag being raised at the other end when he denied Rory Connellan, but again Thomastown hit back, Robbie hitting a sweet score from play. Loughs captain Mark Bergin got his second from play shortly after, but you sensed major scores would be needed to get the current champions back in the game, but this was to be Brian Hogan’s sides last score of the county final. A huge roar echoed around UPMC Nowlan Park when the announcer introduced Thomas ‘Tucker’ O’Hanrahan to the field of play in place of young Colm Treacy.
The next score was lovely, John Joe Farrell won the ball and gave a neat pass to top scorer Robbie Donnelly who fired over. Thomastown nine ahead with five minutes of normal time remaining. The final two scores came from another brace of frees from the deadly Robbie. Three minutes of additional time were signaled, but that’s how the game finished. Thomastown, Kilkenny senior county champions 2024, on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-7.
Scorers: Thomastown: R. Donnelly (0-8, 6 frees); J. Donnelly (0-4); S. Donnelly, J.J. Farrell (0-2 each); R. Connellan, P. McDonald (0-1 each).
Scorers: O’Loughlin Gaels: M. Bergin (0-3, 1 free); O. Wall (0-2); C. Heary, J. Ryan (0-1 each).
THOMASTOWN: P. Barron; P. Connellan, J. Burke (c), N. Kirwan; Z. Bay Hammond, E. Donnelly, B. Staunton; P. McDonald, J.J. Farrell; R. Donnelly, J. Donnelly, L. Connellan; S. Donnelly, C. Treacy, R. Connellan.
Subs for Thomastown: T. O’Hanrahan for C. Treacy (54); D. Prendergast for P. Connellan (58); J. Holden for S. Donnelly (60+4).
O’LOUGHLIN GAELS: S. Murphy; T. Forristal, H. Lawlor, M. Butler; D. Fogarty, P. Deegan, J. Molloy; J. Ryan, J. Nolan; F. Mackessy, M. Bergin (c), C. Kelly; S. Bolger, C. Heary, O. Wall.
Subs for O’Loughlin Gaels: P. Butler for J. Nolan (35); S. Johnston for S. Bolger (40); R. Buckley for C. Kelly (52).
Referee: D. Hughes (Barrow Rangers).
