Kilkenny SHL- Dicksboro hold the edge in city derby

Despite trailing by five points at the break, the ‘Boro turned on the style in the second period with the help of a strong breeze it must be said as they outran their near neighbours.

A late Jack Nolan goal did give O’Loughlin’s a bit of hope but Dicksboro were much the better side with the likes of Harry Shine, Mark Nolan and Cillian Hackett all putting in big displays for the winners.

There was a very scrappy start to the game with both sides proving very wasteful in front of goal.

Mark Bergin and Harry Shine shared a pair of frees while Cillian Hackett’s effort in the 7th minute was the only score from play in the opening 13 minutes.

Backed by a big wind, it was far from an ideal beginning for O’Loughlins and they struggled to find their groove until the latter end of the half.

While Bergin was continuing to knock over his frees, the Boro were much more economical in attack and with Shine and Aidan Nolan finding their range, it was them who led 0-5 to 0-3 after 19 minutes of action.

O’Loughlin’s then burst into life with seven points on the trot and while their first from play only arrived during this spell, the momentum was certainly building as Stephen Murphy, Jamie Ryan, David Fogarty and Conor Kelly all joined freetaker Bergin on the scoresheet.

Dicksboro did bounce back with scores from Shine and Liam Moore but O’Loughlin’s still maintained a decent advantage at the break when Bergin and Jordan Molloy rounded off the half’s scoring (0-12 to 0-7).

If the end of the first half was all about O’Loughlin’s, the third quarter certainly belonged to the Boro.

Like the opening period, Brian Hogan’s O’Loughlin Gaels side went a very long period without scoring from play but unlike the first 30 minutes, they were made pay for it dearly.

After Bergin and Shine both swapped points, Dicksboro began to gain control and by the 42nd minute they were on level terms after Timmy Clifford, Cillian Hackett and Andy Gaffney all scored from play (0-13 to 0-13).

Ollie Walsh then edged the Boro in front and when Liam Moore emerged from a ruck to shoot past Stephen Murphy for the game’s first goal, the match looked very much in the Palmerstown side’s grasp.

O’Loughlin’s kept battling away and when sub Jack Nolan netted with his first touch, a grandstand finish looked in store but ‘Boro held off the late rally with Mark Nolan and Tom Kenny sealing a second successive victory for the Boro.

Teams and Scorers

Dicksboro- Harry Shine (0-6, 0-5 frees); Liam Moore (1-1); Mark Nolan (0-3); Tom Kenny, Cillian Hackett, Bill Sheehan (0-2 each); Timmy Clifford, Ollie Walsh, Aidan Nolan, Andy Gaffney (0-1 each)

O’Loughlin Gaels- Mark Bergin (0-8, 0-7 frees); Jack Nolan (1-0); David Fogarty (0-3); Jordan Molloy, Conor Kelly (0-2 each); Stephen Murphy (0-1, 0-1 free); Jamie Ryan (0-1)

Dicksboro- Darragh Holohan; Padraic Moylan, Niall Rowe, Stephen Dermody; Eoin Fennelly, Tom Kenny, Timmy Clifford; Ollie Walsh, Cillian Hackett; Bill Sheehan, Aidan Nolan, Liam Moore; Harry Shine, Mark Nolan, Andy Gaffney.

Subs: Conor Fitzpatrick for Dermody; 53 mins, Shane Stapleton for A.Nolan; 55 mins, James Carroll for Walsh; 59 mins.

O’Loughlin Gaels- Stephen Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Ronan Buckley; David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy; Matthew Russell, Jamie Ryan; Mark Bergin, Owen Wall, Luke Hogan; Eoin O’Shea, Paddy Butler, Conor Kelly.

Subs: Ryan Poyntz for Hogan; 10 mins, Cian Loy for Russell; 24 mins, Sean Bolger for Kelly; 44 mins, Jack Nolan for O’Shea; 55 mins.

Referee- Michael O’Sullivan (Shamrocks)