Kilkenny JHC- O'Loughlin's overpower St Patrick's to reach county decider

O’Loughlin Gaels showcased their huge strength in depth when running out four point winners over St Patrick’s of Ballyragget in the JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final in UPMC Nowlan Park.

Despite initially trailing 1-3 to 0-0, the O’Loughlin’s second team was the better team for the majority of the contest and nine points without reply between the end of the first half and the start of the second half put them firmly in command.

St Patrick’s briefly rallied but once Alex Sheridan found the net in the 50th minute, the city side looked home and dry.

An early Sean Brennan goal looked to have put Ballyragget in a decent position but a busy schedule and the O’Loughlins defence proving very stubborn meant they never hit full flow.

Kevin Kelly did lash in a late 21 yard free but it only served to put some respectability on the scoreboard as O’Loughlin sealed a place in the final for the first time since they last won the title in 2019.

There was only one team in in throughout the opening 11 minutes or so as St Patrick’s really hit the ground running with a pair of scores from Kevin Kelly and an excellent sideline cut via Christian Connick giving the North Kilkenny outfit an early buffer.

The opening goal of the game then went in Ballyragget’s favour when a dropping Kevin Kelly free landed at the feet of Sean Brennan who blasted a shot to the net past Declan Murphy.

O’Loughlin’s eventually got on the board with back to back Alex Molloy efforts but Ballyragget continued to make the running with Kevin Kelly, Christian Connick and Cian Doheny all splitting the posts in quick succession.

Points from play by Alex Sheridan and Sammy Johnson kept O’Loughlin’s in touch and rest of the half belonged to the junior section b winners as they knocked over scores at will before the half-time break.

Four Sammy Johnson frees as well as efforts from play by Jamie Young, Paddy Butler and Ryan Poyntz turned the needle in the Gaels favour as they led 0-11 to 1-6 at the change of ends.

Further scores upon the resumption by Alex Sheridan who was in top form all day and Paddy Butler left Eddie Kearns side four to the good and Ballyragget looked shell-shocked at this stage.

The side in Maroon did put on a bit of a spurt with points from Kelly via two frees, Michael Brennan and Sean Brennan brought the dficit back to a point but they were unable to get any closer.

Sheridan and Kevin Murphy kept O’Loughlin’s plugging away and they also had a big goal opportunity when Jack Sheridan had an effort blocked narrowly wide.

Sean Brennan’s 46th minute score for St Patrick’s proved to be his side’s last for eight minutes and in that time, O’Loughlin’s registered a quickfire 1-5 to end the game as a contest really.

Sheridan, Murphy and Ryan Murphy split the posts and when Sheridan latched onto a long ball inside to score his side’s first goal, O’Loughlin’s opened up a big gap between the teams.

A pair of Sammy Johnson scores from play added further to the O’Loughlin’s tally to leave them nine points to the good and while Kevin Kelly grabbed Ballyragget’s second major with a 21 yard free, it proved to be the last action as the Gaels ran out 1-21 to 2-14 winners in the windup and in this type of form they will be very difficult opponents in the decider.

Teams and Scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels: Alex Sheridan (1-4); Sammy Johnson (0-7, 4fs); Paddy Butler (0-3); Kevin Murphy, Ryan Poyntz, Alex Molloy (0-2 each); Jamie Young (0-1)

St Patrick’s: Kevin Kelly (1-6, 5fs); Sean Brennan (1-2); Christian Connick (0-2); Michael Brennan, Cian Doheny, Rob Doheny, Mark Hogan (0-1 each)

O’Loughlin Gaels: Declan Murphy; Jack Lawlor, Jamie Young, Evan Walsh; Barry Lawlor, Ruaidhri Galwey, Alex Molloy; Oisin Murphy, Sammy Johnson; Paddy Butler, Gary Bryan, Alex Sheridan; Jack Sheridan, Kevin Murphy, Ryan Poyntz.

Subs: John McNamara for Poyntz, 56 mins; Joe Bolger for O.Murphy, 60 mins.

St Patrick’s: Billy Morrissey; Steve Staunton, Mark Staunton, Chris Delaney; Ned Glennon, Geoff Brennan, Bill Staunton; Mark Doheny, Richie McEvoy; Christian Connick, Michael Brennan, Cian Doheny; Kevin Kelly, Sean Brennan, Shane Culleton.

Subs: Marc Bergin for Connick, 51 mins; Rob Doheny for C.Doheny, 53 mins; James Gannon for M.Brennan, 58 mins; Rob Healy for McEvoy, 58 mins.

Referee: Stephen Delaney