Kilkenny SHC- Mackessy rescues O’Loughlin’s in dramatic win over Dicksboro

O’Loughlin Gaels grip on the Tom Walsh Cup was severely tested but like true champions they fought to a dramatic success over Dicksboro in last Sunday’s St Canices Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final.

Second half red cards to Mikey Butler and Mark Bergin had O’Loughlin’s under severe pressure but when their need was at it’s highest, Fionan Mackessy stood up to score 1-1 in stoppage time and stun a ‘Boro team that looked like they might cause an upset.

Prior to the two sending off’s which occured in a four minute spell, O’Loughlin’s looked very much in control with an opening minute Luke Hogan goal setting them on their way.

All changed after the dismissals which saw Mikey Butler sent off for a high challenge on Shane Stapleton and team captain Mark Bergin for an off the ball incident with Ollie Walsh as Harry Shine led the ‘Boro charge and with five minutes remaining, the Palmerstown outfit led 0-18 to 1-12.

Joe Sheehan and Cillian Buckley kept their noses in front but O’Loughlin’s kept attacking and Fionan Mackessy’s cracking goal in the 62nd minute firmly turned the tide in the champions direction.

Luke Hogan gave Dicksboro full back Padraic Moylan a torrid time throughout the 60 minutes and the O’Loughlin’s full forward got the better of his Kilkenny teammate within seconds of the start as he beat him for pace before shooting past Darragh Holohan.

Dicksboro did get back level by the halfway mark of the half with Timmy Clifford knocking over a pair of points from play and Harry Shine nailing a couple of frees.

The challengers were unable to hit the front though and a decent spread of scores from Mark Bergin, Fionan Mackessy, Luke Hogan and Sean Bolger meant O’Loughlin’s led by two at the break (1-8 to 0-9).

Hogan very nearly repeated his first half heroics when he hit the post with a shot directly from the throw-in once again and when Bergin and Jordan Molloy followed up with scores, Brian Hogan’s side were in a decent position.

Shine then narrowed the gap back to two points before the red card incidents and in the following 10 minutes, the side in Maroon outscored their neighbours 0-6 to 0-2 as points from Bill Sheehan, Harry Shine, Timmy Clifford and Cillian Hackett moved them into a match winning position.

Somehow O’Loughlin’s found a second wind however and on the back of scores from Jordan Molloy, Paddy Deegan and Luke Hogan, they then struck for goal as Conor Heary created an overlap with Mackessy who then made no mistake in finding the net.

If that wasn’t enough, the Kerry star then knocked over a free from his own half to seal a remarkable win for O’Loughlin’s.

Teams and Scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels: Fionan Mackessy (1-4, 0-1 free); Luke Hogan (1-2); Mark Bergin (0-4, 0-4 frees); Jordan Molloy (0-3); Conor Kelly (0-1, 0-1 free); Sean Bolger, Paddy Deegan, David Fogarty (0-1 each)

Dicksboro: Harry Shine (0-10, 0-8 frees); Timmy Clifford (0-3); Cillian Hackett, Joe Sheehan (0-2 each); Bill Sheehan, Cillian Buckley, Shane Stapleton (0-1 each)

O’Loughlin Gaels - Stephen Murphy; Tony Forristal, 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 Bolger; Eoin O'Shea for Nolan; Ronan Buckley for Ryan.

Dicksboro - Darragh Holohan; Niall Rowe, Padraic Moylan, Evan Cody; Ollie Walsh, Cillian Buckley, Eoin Fennelly; Joe Sheehan, Kevin Moore; Timmy Clifford, Bill Sheehan, Liam Moore; Cillian Hackett, Shane Stapleton, Harry Shine.

Subs: Matthew Kelleher for L.Moore; Evan Murphy for Walsh; Mark Nolan for Rowe.

Referee - David Hughes (Barrow Rangers)