O'Loughlins celebrate Junior E Hurling title win over Glenmore

O’Loughlin Gaels are JJ Kavanagh Junior E champions after they saw off a spirited Glenmore side in this final at UPMC Nowlan Park.

This final was very much a tale of two halves! The first half was highly competitive throughout, with the sides level on six occasions, while in the second, the city side too over with slicker hurling, taking advantage of the wide expanses of Kilkenny GAA headquarters.

Whatever the Andy Cantwell trained O’Loughlins side, along with selectors Gary Bryan, Mick Galway and Sean Cleere, said to their charges at half time, they upped a gear or two after the interval.

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Rory Atkins opened the scoring with a Glenmore point, replied to by O’Loughlins scores from James Houlahan and Sean Cahalane. Another Atkins point for Glenmore, this from a free, levelled matters.

The evergreen Alan Geogheghan put O’Loughlins back in front, followed by a score from Jack Walsh (0-4 to 0-2).

Glenmore were getting to grips with the game, aided by the stiff breeze and recorded three unanswered points, two from Atkins, the other by James Reid from a free.

A score from Robbie O’Driscoll levelled matters, followed by two points from Jack Walsh, the first a splendid score from the touchline on the new stand side.

Glenmore reduced the lead to a point with an Emmett Vereker score, to which Robbie O’Driscoll replied with an O’Loughlins free.

The Southern side had their best spell between the 18th and 24th minute with an unanswered 1-2. Emmett Vereker and Rory Atkins got the points, with Atkins the goalscorer, having collected the sliotair close to goal and finishing neatly the net (1-8 to 0-8).

Three O’Loughlins points from Harry Nowlan, Sean Cahalane and an O’Driscoll free had them back all square at the interval.

Half-Time: O’Loughlin Gaels 0-11; Glenmore 1-8.

Within eight minutes of the second half Gaels had gone four points clear with scores from Harry Nowlan (2), Robbie O’Driscoll abd Sean Cahalane.

Points from Glenmore’s James Reid and a James Aylward free halved the margin, 1-10 to 0-15. It was in the final quarter that O’Loughlins took charge, outscoring their opponents 1-4 to 0-2.

James Houlahan and Harry Nowlan points for O’Loughlins were replied to by a point from Glenmore’s James Aylward. Two further Jack Walsh (OL) points were answered by an Aylward free, 0-19 to 1-11.

Then, in the 60th minute, came a match clinching O’Loughlins goal from James Houlihan.

The city side were worthy winners here, with players like James Houlahan, and particularly forwards such as Jack Walsh and Harry Nowlan starring with both scores and involvement in attacks and always causing Glenmore difficulties.

The Glens had fine performances too, such as Luke Vereker, Rory Atkins and James Reid.

Teams and Scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels: Jack Walsh (0-5), James Houlahan (1-2), Harry Nolan (0-4), Robbie O’Driscoll (0-4, frees), Sean Cahalane (0-3), Alan Geogheghan (0-1) 

Glenmore: Rory Atkins (1-4), James Aylward (0-4, 0-3 frees), James Reid (0-2, 0-1 frees), Emmett Vereker, Luke Vereker (0-1 each).

O’Loughlin Gaels: Michael Lambert, Peter McNamara, Micheal Twomey, Jack Kearns (JC), Diarmuid Considine, Mark Croghan, Josh Owens, John Comerford, James Holohan, Cathal O’Leary Harry Nolan, Robbie O’Driscoll, Jack Walsh, Alan Geoghegan, Sean Cahalane.

Subs: Eddie Kearns for Josh Owens, Kevin Rowe (JC) for Cathal O’Leary, Podge Nolan for Robbie O’Driscoll, Odhran Lawlor for Jack Walsh. 

Glenmore: Mark Phelan, Sean Phelan, Ben Maher (Captain), Ruaidhri Heffernan, Luke Vereker, Brian O’Donoghue, Jack Cody, James Hendrick, Michael Phelan, James Aylward (VC), James Reid, Patrick O’Connor, Rory Atkins, Emmett Vereker, Tommy Maher.

Subs: Christopher Hennessy for Tommy Maher, Mark Cody for James Hennessy, Rowan Halligan for Ben Maher, Aaron Talbot for Rory Atkins.

Referee: Gay Rafter (Threecastles).