Kilkenny SHL- Fionán Mackessy stars as O'Loughlins ease past Mullinavat

In a forgetable contest, O’Loughlin Gaels made it two wins on the bounce as they easily brushed aside a very wasteful Mullinavat (20 wides, 10 in each half) in Thomastown last Sunday.

The South Kilkenny men have proven more than awkward for O’Loughlin Gaels the past two years in knockout hurling having defeated them in 2022, while last year the champions had to overturn an eight point first-half deficit in their Quarter-Final contest in Thomastown before recording a hard fought win.

However, the O’Loughlins men had no such trouble last Sunday with Kerry man Fionán Mackessy leading the way fresh from defending his Poc Fada crown in the Cooley Mountains on the August Bank Holiday.

 Fionán was outstanding as he permanently posed a potent threat with his creativity and vision, while on several occassions he was tracking back in helping his defence and midfield as he played the quarter-back role to great effect.

Fionán was orchestrating proceedings right from the throw-in, as his surging run towards goal resulted in a goal within 30 seconds of the very start of the game.

His shot was saved by Sean Fitzpatrick, but Luke Hogan was quick as a flash as he pounced on the sliotar for his third goal of the league having scored a brace against Clara the previous weekend.

The second goal arrived at the midway point of the first-half, and it was a brilliantly worked team goal.

The ever threatening Owen Wall sent a glorious crossfield ball in the direction of Sean Bolger who passed to the on running Jack Nolan, and he applied the finishing touch superbly.

O’Loughlins were now leading 2-3 to 0-2, and even at such an early stage it was mission impossible for Mullinavat who had the elements of the wind throughout the opening-half.

They maintained that seven point advantage at half-time as they led 2-6 to 0-5 with Mark Bergin (0-3 frees), Mikey Butler, Fionán Mackessy and Sean Bolger on target throughout the opening-half, while Mullinavat’s first half total came from John Walsh (0-2 0-1 free), Tom Aylward(0-1 free), Adam Mansfield and Padraic Gahan.

O’Loughlin Gaels maintained control and dominance throughout the second-half with the inter-county trio of Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor and the returning Paddy Deegan leading the way from defence.

The Mullinavat attack struggled to make an impression, and their cause was in no way helped by their wasteful shooting.

At the midway point of the second-half, the O’Loughlins men led 2-11 to 0-8 with further points by Mark Bergin, Jordan Molloy, Fionán Mackessy (0-2 0-1 free) and Jack Nolan.

Mullinavat’s best opportunity of any potential fightback came in the 47th minute, when John Walsh went for goal from a close range free.

However, his effort was saved and O’Loughlin Gaels took complete control for the remainder of the contest as they outscored the South Kilkenny men 0-8 to 0-1.

Paddy Deegan fired over a brace of long range points, while substitutes Conor Kelly(2) and Jamie Ryan were also on target along with another Mark Bergin free.

Fionán Mackessy had the final say with a brace of points, one a superb effort from play right on the sideline before concluding the scoring with a long distance free.

Teams and Scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (0-5, 0-4 frees), Fionán Mackessy 0-5(0-2 frees), Jack Nolan 1-1, Luke Hogan 1-0, Paddy Deegan, Conor Kelly 0-2 each, Mikey Butler, Sean Bolger, Jordan Molloy, Jamie Ryan 0-1 each

Mullinavat: John Walsh 0-6(0-4 frees), Tom Aylward(free), Adam Mansfield, Padraic Gahan 0-1 each

O’Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy, Ronan Buckley, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler, David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Tony Forristal, Jack Nolan, Jordan Molloy, Mark Bergin, Fionán Mackessy, Paddy Butler, Owen Wall, Luke Hogan, Sean Bolger.

Subs: Conor Kelly, Jamie Ryan, Eoin O’Shea, Jamie Young, Evan Walsh.

Mullinavat: Sean Fitzpatrick, Bill Dempsey, Tom Aylward, Joe Gahan, Ian Duggan, Padraig Dempsey, Michael Malone, Adam Mansfield, Liam Fennelly, Conor Walsh, Padraic Gahan, John Walsh, Ger Malone, Oisin Knox, George O’Connor.

Subs: Brian Phelan, Donncha Walsh.

Referee: David Hughes