Kilkenny JHC- Section B glory for O’Loughlin Gaels over Thomastown

This Junior B final in well-presented Callan on Saturday may not have been the most gripping encounter between Thomastown and city side O’Loughlin Gaels, but yet it was competitive and enjoyable for supporters of both protagonists, with the end result in the lap of the gods well into the remaining five final minutes.

While climatic conditions were difficult, they were clearly defined in that the threatened rain all morning did not materialise, but the wind had a major input to the eventual result. There was no difficulty in ascertaining its direction as it flittered the flags around the venue in a very positive straight line.

Thomastown elected to play with the wind as their ally in the first half, but the tactic of the winners going man on man were problematic for the boys in blue in the first 15 minutes.

Midway through the first half, the Thomastown lads could only manage to trouble the umpires to wave the white flag six times.

The O’Loughlins lads, in particular their defensive diamond of Ruaidhri Galway, Oisin Murphy, Sammy Johnson and Gary Bryan spent much of their time hoovering lost of loose and lost ball.

Jack Lawlor and Evan Walsh, were strong and decidedly effective on their fullback line. Walsh in particular proved a severe nemesis for any of the Thomastown forwards who came his way.

The city side needed a good start to their second half with the wind in their sails. Walsh off-loaded to full forward, Kevin Murphy who shot over the lead point for their team, a lead never threatened to the finishing wire.

At half-time Thomastown were leading by the odd point in 13 (0-7 to 0-6). Speculative opinion felt that it was never going to be enough to win.

At the end of the third quarter, the winners were in front by three points.

A super Eanna O’Keeffe goal stopped the O’Loughlins charge. With renewed vigour, the ’Town went for the jugular. They had a chance still.

Cian Farrell, Jack Holden, Aaron Kehoe were shifting up a gear. Back behind them, Davy Prendergast, Dylan Waugh, Pauric Kirwan were making life more than tough for the marauding city lads.

Jack Cullen and Cian Doherty were throwing down the gauntlet too.

The final quarter was fraught with teak-tough challenges, some excellent passages of hurling and a run to the wire by both sides, with the winners in doubt.

Oisin Murphy, Kevin Murphy, Jack Sheridan, the flying Sammy Johnson, all got late points for the winners.

Cian Farrell, Aaron Kehoe, got some too for their side.

Excitement was at a real high, but lady luck dealt Thomastown a cruel blow late on as a free from the O’Loughlins 21-metre line was launched skywards by Declan Murphy. Caught by the wind, it evaded the grasp of the Thomastown ’keeper and flew into his net.

Game set and match to O’Loughlins.

O’Loughlin Gaels - Declan Murphy (1-0, free), Jack Lawlor, Jamie Young, Evan Walsh, Barry Lawlor, Ruaidrí Galway (0-1), Alex Molloy, Oisin Murphy (0-2), Sammy Johnson (0-4, one free), Paddy Butler (0-1), Garry Bryan, Alex Sheridan (0-1), Jack Sheridan (0-2), Kevin Murphy (0-4), Ryan Poyntz.

Subs (used): John Mc Namara (0-1), Eoghan O’Briain.

Thomastown - Paul Barron, Oisin O’Reilly, David Prendergast, Ciarán Coone, Sean Denieffe, Dylan Waugh, Pauric Kirwan, Jack Cullen, Cian Doherty, Éanna O’Keeffe (1-0), Aaron Kehoe (0-3), Conor Barcoe (0-1), Conor Monks, Jack Holden (0-2), Cian Farrell (0-4, frees).

Subs (used): Evan Wilson, Richard O’Hara.

Referee - Taigh Morley (Shamrocks)