Kilkenny SHC- O’Loughlin Gaels show champion class as they cruise into county final

Goals in each half from Fionan Mackessy and Sammy Johnston helped O’Loughlin Gaels seal their place in this year’s St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship Final after claiming a six-point win over Bennettsbridge on Sunday afternoon.

O’Loughlins lined up without the suspended Mark Bergin and Mikey Butler but their loss wasn’t felt as it was a game the county champions controlled from the off.

Mackessy’s goal via a well executed 21 yard free in the 23rd minute set the city side on their way. While Bennettsbridge got a late goal from David Blanchfield, they were much second best on the day in what was a disappointing affair overall.

As well as Mackessy, who scored 1-7 in another fine display, the midfield duo of Jamie Ryan and Jack Nolan stood out with five points from play while the O’Loughlins defence impressed in stopping Bennettsbridge’s key assets.

It was a very stop-start beginning to the game with both teams hitting careless wides early on and the first point didn’t arrive until Hugh O’Neill split the posts in the seventh minute for the ’Bridge.

Fionan Mackessy took over the frees in Mark Bergin’s absence and he quickly equalised before Nicky Cleere edged Bennettsbridge in front once more.

O’Loughlins then opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after Jamie Ryan hit a pair of efforts from play either side of a well-taken David Fogarty effort.

The Bennettsbridge response was a swift one as they got the next four points on the trot. Sean Morrissey showed well as he hit over three of those points with James Hughes also getting on the scoresheet.

The ’Bridge looked in a decent spot at that stage but they would only score one more point before half-time while O’Loughlins upped their game to register 1-5 in the same timeframe.

Jamie Ryan, with his third point of the half, left just the minimum in it before Fionan Mackessy spotted an opportunity from a 21yard free. Instead of taking the easy point, the Kerry star went for glory as he buried a shot to the net.

That score seemed to give the winners a big jolt of confidence as they quickly tacked on four points to move six clear on the scoreboard.

Mackessy, Paddy Deegan, Conor Heary and Conor Kelly all found their range for Brian Hogan’s side and although Nicky Cleere nailed a 65 with the last score of the half in stoppage time, it was O’Loughlins who held a firm grip on the tie at the interval (1-9 to 0-7).

Bennettsbridge threatened to mount something of a comeback when Nicky Cleere scored the first two points of the second half before he exchanged placed ball efforts with Fionan Mackessy.

A lovely flicked Owen Wall score duly made it 1-11 to 0-10 in O’Loughlins favour before Mackessy increased the advantage with his fifth pointed free of the afternoon.

Bennettsbridge were hanging in there though and points from Nicky Cleere and Kevin Blanchfield ensured there was still only a puck of the ball between the sides at the halfway mark of the second half.

It was from here that O’Loughlin’s took the game away from their opponents with a Mackessy brace of points followed by Jack Nolan finding the target at the end of a flowing team move that started in their own full-back line.

The insurance goal for Brian Hogan’s side then arrived in the 55th minute when Paddy Deegan gave a pass to Jack Nolan.

Breaking forward, Nolan offloaded the sliotar to Sammy Johnston who made no mistake in firing a fierce shot past Enda Cleere in the Bennettsbridge goal.

O’Loughlins got two more points via Mackessy and Jamie Ryan and while the Bridge rallied with a late David Blanchfield goal, it only proved to be a consolation as O’Loughlins booked their place in the decider.

Teams and Scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels - Fionan Mackessy (1-7, 0-7 frees); Jamie Ryan (0-4); Sammy Johnston (1-0); David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jack Nolan, Owen Wall, Conor Heary, Conor Kelly (0-1 each).

Bennettsbridge - Nicky Cleere (0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65); David Blanchfield (1-0); Sean Morrissey (0-3); Timmy Kelly, Hugh O’Neill, Kevin Blanchfield, Jason Cleere, James Hughes (0-1 each)

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

Subs: Eoin O’Shea for Hogan, 31 mins; Sammy Johnston for Bolger, 49 mins; Paddy Butler for Nolan, 56 mins; Jamie Young for Molloy, 59 mins.

Bennettsbridge - Enda Cleere; Timmy Kelly, Enda Morrissey, Shane Byrne; Bill Hughes, David Blanchfield, Conor Murphy; Hugh O’Neill, Kevin Blanchfield; Nicky Cleere, Jason Cleere, James Hughes; Ciaran Brennan, Liam Blanchfield, Sean Morrissey.

Subs: Jack Campion for Brennan, 42 mins; Daniel Murphy for O’Neill, 47 mins; Robert Lennon for L Blanchfield, 54 mins.

Referee - Conor Everard (Graigue Ballycallan).