Kilkenny SHL- Relentless O’Loughlins capture senior league title

O’Loughlin Gaels maintained their flawless start to the club season with a commanding 15-point success over Tullaroan in the senior league final on Sunday afternoon.

Luke Hogan and Owen Wall bagged two goals apiece for the winners while Fionan Mackessy put in his most impressive outing in the O’Loughlins jersey to date as he knocked over six points from play.

The final scoreline doesn’t tell the full story though as Tullaroan were in the game for long periods and it was only in the final quarter that the county champions pulled away.

It was a very even beginning to the contest with the sides level on six occasions throughout the opening quarter.

Two points from play by Shane Walsh arrived either side of a John Walton effort as the underdogs got the early upper hand but O’Loughlins soon gained the upper hand with Fionan Mackessy knocking over a trio of excellent efforts.

Mark Bergin, Owen Wall and Conor Heary then added to the O’Loughlins tally to level up matters on the back of Shane Walsh converting a couple of frees for Ken Coogan’s Tullaroan team.

Halfway through the half, the opening goal of the game arrived and maybe a bit surprisingly it came for Tullaroan. Bill Gaffney knocked down a long delivery towards the square and Gearoid Dunne duly gathered before swiping the sliotar into the O’Loughlins End goal.

The Gaels’ reply was almost instant as Mackessy brought his first half tally to five points while only the post denied Owen Wall as he fired a shot past the despairing Paul Buggy.

Tullaroan survived the period of pressure however with points from Shane Walsh, Padraig Walsh and Jack Keoghan as the Sash went five points clear on the scoreboard.

Such is the O’Loughlins threat though that the deficit was down to the minimum by the time Eoin Maher blew for half-time after Paddy Deegan and Mark Bergin knocked over points before Luke Hogan got the first of his two goals when he pounced to net a rebound after Owen Wall had seen an earlier attempt thwarted by Paul Buggy.

Mossy Keoghan did keep Tullaroan’s noses in front when he hit the last point of a thrilling opening period as his side led 1-11 to 1-10.

Mark Bergin levelled the game seconds upon the resumption before Hogan grabbed his second major of the contest. He found himself on the end of a flowing move which included Jack Nolan and Conor Heary. The full-forward made no mistake in blasting the sliotar home.

Dylan Simpson hit back with successive efforts to leave one point in it again but it was at this stage that O’Loughlin’s really took command of the contest.

The winners not only scored five of the next six points to go five clear on the scoreboard, but they then practically ended the game as a contest when Owen Wall belatedly got on the goal scoring trail when getting his side’s third of the game in the 43rd minute.

Mark Bergin followed up with a free and even before the third quarter had reached its conclusion, the silverware was practically in the city side’s hands as they led 3-17 to 1-14.

Tullaroan remained forceful and competitive all the same. Three points on the bounce gave them some hope as Padraig Walsh, Mossy Keoghan and Dylan Simpson pointed to keep them in touch.

O’Loughlin’s blew them out of the water in the final 10 minutes though as they outscored Tullaroan by 1-7 to 0-2. Owen Wall’s second goal started a period of dominance that saw the likes of Jack Nolan, Conor Kelly and Fionan Mackessy round off a comprehensive success which O’Loughlins are hoping won’t be the last piece of silverware that they capture in UPMC Nowlan Park this year.

Tullaroan can also gain some positives as both teams turn their heads towards the knockout stages of the championship.

Teams and Scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels - Owen Wall (2-3); Fionan Mackessy (0-7, 0-1 free); Luke Hogan (2-0); Mark Bergin (0-6, 0-5 frees); Conor Heary (0-3); Conor Kelly (0-2, 0-1 65); Jack Nolan (0-2); Paddy Deegan (0-1).

Tullaroan - Shane Walsh (0-6, 0-3 frees); Dylan Simpson (0-5, 0-1 free); Gearoid Dunne (1-0); Jack Keoghan, Martin Keoghan, Padraig Walsh (0-2 each); John Walton (0-1).

O’Loughlin Gaels - Stephen Murphy; Ronan Buckley, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy; Jamie Ryan, Jack Nolan; Mark Bergin, Owen Wall, Fionan Mackessy; Sean Bolger, Luke Hogan, Conor Heary.

Subs: Conor Kelly for Ryan, 45 mins; Paddy Butler for Bolger, 54 mins; Eoin O’Shea for Heary, 58 mins.

Tullaroan - Paul Buggy; Joe Coughlan, Tommy Walsh, Martin Walsh; Tomas Dunne, Padraig Walsh, Charlie Cleere; Josh Moore, Jack Keoghan; Bill Gaffney, Martin Keoghan, Dylan Simpson; John Walton, Gearoid Dunne, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Jim Moore for Cleere, 51 mins; Ciallin Brennan for Walton, 54 mins; Adam Tallis for Simpson, 58 mins.

Referee - Eoin Maher (Mullinavat)