Kilkenny SHL- New faces to the fore as O'Loughlin's defeat Dicksboro
O’Loughlin Gaels 5-14 Dicksboro 2-18
Despite being shorn of a number of first team regulars, O’Loughlin Gaels produced a very classy display as they ran out five point winners over Dicksboro in the opening round of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League on Friday evening.
The first senior league game of the season attracted a large crowd to Castlecomer and it was the performance of the O’Loughlin’s new kids on the blocks that got everyone talking.
With injury ruling out the likes of David Fogarty, Luke Hogan, Jordan Molloy, Owen Wall and Mark Bergin amongst others, there would have been a bit of trepidation among the winning teams supporters but they needn’t have worried with all five goals on the night coming from relative newcomers.
Ruarc Sweeney was on the Kilkenny Under-20 squad this year and he looks a real find as he netted a hat-trick with David McGee and Greg Kelly also pouncing for goals in a game where Cian Byrne, Fionan Mackessy and Paddy Deegan also shone for the winners.
Dicksboro will be disappointed with their own display and although Mark Nolan and Patrick Lacey goaled in the opening period, they were chasing for a lot of the contest.
Harry Shine did well for the Boro in the second half while Tom McPhillips was forceful in defence but in truth it was a night where they were outworked by the 2023 county champions.
O’Loughlin’s were up an running almost immediately with Ruarc Sweeney’s opening goal arriving after only three minutes of play when he batted the sliotar past Darragh Holohan in the Boro goal.
Dicksboro did level up matters a couple of minutes later when Mark Nolan found the bottom corner of the net despite shooting off balance but with Greg Kelly and David McGee scoring down the other end, Brian Hogan’s team led 3-2 to 1-3.
A fourth O’Loughlin’s goal followed soon after when Sweeney grabbed his second major of the half and the John’s Park outfit were running riot at this stage.
Dicksboro did end the half well with Patrick Lacey goaling and Shane Stapleton, Tom McPhillips and Padraic Moylan splitting the posts to leave just a point between them at the interval.
The second half was nip and tuck to begin with and it was only when Sweeney wrapped up his hat-trick inside the final quarter that O’Loughlin’s got real breathing space on the scoreboard and it was around this time that Fionan Mackessy knocked over a couple of huge points from distance.
Harry Shine scored three points from play inside the final five minutes to briefly rise hope of a comeback but Mackessy and Conor Kelly knocked over the last two points to ensure O’Loughlin’s went home with a 5-14 to 2-18 victory in the end.
Teams and Scorers
O’Loughlin Gaels: Ruarc Sweeney (3-0); Conor Kelly (0-5, 3fs); Fionan Mackessy (0-4); David McGee, Greg Kelly (0-1 each); Robbie Buckley (0-2); Jamie Ryan, Cian Byrne, Paddy Deegan (0-1 each)
Dicksboro; Shane Stapleton (0-6, 6fs); Patrick Lacey, Mark Nolan, (1-0 each); Harry Shine, Tom McPhillips (0-3 each); Padraic Moylan (0-2, 2fs); Anthony Clifford (0-2); Kevin Moore, Timmy Clifford (0-1 each)
O’Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy; Jack Lawlor, Eoin O’Shea, Mikey Butler; David McGee, Fionan Mackessy, Paddy Deegan; Conor Kelly, Jack Nolan; Greg Kelly, Jamie Ryan, Cian Loy; Robbie Buckley, Ruarc Sweeney, Cian Byrne.
Subs: Conor Heary for Nolan, 45 mins; Sammy Johnston for Byrne, 63 mins.
Dicksboro: Darragh Holohan; Niall Rowe, Padraic Moylan, Evan Murphy; Eoin Fennelly, Tom Kenny, Tom McPhillips; Kevin Moore, Cillian Hackett; Anthony Clifford, Harry Shine, Timmy Clifford; Mark Nolan, Shane Stapleton, Patrick Lacey,
Subs: Liam Moore for Nolan, 38 mins; Evan Cody for Murphy, 47 mins; Dan Carroll for Lacey, 51 mins; Ollie Walsh for A.Clifford, 55 mins; Eoghan Moylan for McPhillips, 55 mins.
Referee; Patrick O’Reilly