​Another fine performance tops a another great year for this group of players earning them the status of 2017 Kilkenny County Minor Champions- a nice ring to it. The efforts exerted from the previous wednesday evenings semi-final against Graigue Ballycallan were evident in the first half of this game as the boys struggled at times to get to the pace of the game. The Village were in the mood though and had hurled well in the opening half picking off points when the opportunities arose while the Gaels kept in touch off the scraps.  But these lads know how to win games.."don't panic...take your opportunities when they arise...,and work hard". Wow do these lads work hard!.  Showing early signs of this teams' willingness to work mid-fielder Luke Hogan put the Gaels in front 3pts to 2pts on the 7th minute injecting a bit of life into a souless opening few minutes.  Within a minute an attack was stifled illegally and the Gaels were awared a free on the 21. It seemed logical to put it over the bar but free taker Ben Maher saw a gap and rifled it to the net.  Four points clear..the St. John's Parish crowd were happy.

 
But over the following 8 minutes the Village converted 5 points without reply. They had already had a go at goal but for a fine save by net minder David McCormack and were building nice momentum edging them in front with 10 mins to the break.  Eoin Wall gathered nicely and pointed from an acute angle to equalise yet again but the Village were not for wilting. The Village mid-fielder Cian Kenny won the resulting puckout and turned to make an assault on the O'Loughlin Gaels goal. - He got passed the first tackles, sidestepped the next but met a determined full-back and was upended  outside the 21. Barry Lawlor clearly sending a message to the rest of the team that that was not to happen again. Eoin Guilfoyle (Village) converted the resulting free that nosed them in front again. 

Eoin Wall equalised again but the Village would go two in front through Coyne and Whelan before Jordan Molloy had had enough. These lads needed a lift and Jordan was just about to give it to them. He nonchantly gathered the ball 50 yards from goal and weaved his way towards the 21 and picked his spot. It did take a deflection that surely wrongfooted the Village Keeper, but the intent was there and the work was done, so the goal was well deserved and the Gaels take the lead again. The Village ended the half one point clear (a point each from Scanlon and Guilfoyle (f) ) but were probably confused as to why they just couldnt shake off the favourites and build up a head of steam. The answer was simple...these boys just didnt win this on Sunday...these lads had put their names on this title since early spring and nothing was going to stop them.

Half time score O'Loughlin Gaels 2-5 to 0-12 James Stephens

The second half started off lively. The Village went two clear through a Niall Brassil point, but within a minute Eoin Wall had found the Gaels 3rd goal and probably this was breaking point for the Village.  The writing was on the wall just before half time though as Ben Maher had forced a fine save from the 'Stephen's keeper - Sean Minogue. From Eoin Wall's goal the boys kicked off. Jamie Young was introduced on 40mins and his role was to man the right wing and act as a free forward. It confused the defence and opened up the opportunites for the Gaels. Dacel Fwamba added a well deserved point and 2 minutes later Luke Hogan pointed his second. The pendulum had swung and O'Loughlins were all over this. The Village returned two more but Ben Maher converted the next two from play and Eoin O'Shea and Eoin Wall added another brace.  Ben Maher and Dacel Fwamba were taking on the Village lines and breaking through..Ben had struck for goal on the  44th minutes that forced another save from the impressive Minogue. Minogue was called upon again when Dacel fired..the resulting deflectiion fell to Eoin Wall and his strike hit the woodwork.  The Village to their eternal credit tried hard...Niall Brassil forced his way through on goal on the 26th minute and was blocked brilliantly by defender Oisin Murphy...who had been brilliant all day. It was as stop that quelled any hopes the Village support had of a comeback.  

The teams traded points in the final few minuted and the honour of the final score fell to young Eoin Wall who had a sublime afternoon in the O'Loughlin Gaels Jersey.

This was another fine team performance. Workrate and teamwork instilled into their game through a hardworking backroom team.  The outpouring of joy and emotion on the final whistle was only testimony to the bond that these lads have. It will be a day they'll never forget.  They've had other days too they'll never forget and have shown through the years that they are always there for each other both on and off the hurling field.

O'Loughlin Gaels GAA  congratulates them all, their management team and their familes. 
​Lovely hurling

This was the quintessential semi-final performance. A team that had nothing on their minds from the outset but to get to the the County Minor Huring Final on Sunday against the old foe James Stephens GAA. Within in 30 seconds of the throw-in Man of the Match Eoin O'Shea gathered and pierced the Ballycallan defence and rifled to the net. No one in the strong attendance was under any illusions about what was to come. It was relentless...the boys played with a combined force that was never going to be broken. The suggestion from the final score that the opposition was weak couldnt be further from the truth..Graigue/Ballycallan are a formidable side with some fine players but nothing could have prepared them for what was to come. 

Conor Kelly added to the score next with a fine point..the u16 star causing all kinds of problems for the Ballycallan defenders. No full back line will relish coming up against this O'Loughlin GAels full forward line of Eoin Wall, Conor Kelly & Ben Maher...with speed and guile that yielded 1-12 between them (including 4 placed balls from Ben Maher). If that wasnt enough to deal with the half forward line , including late replacement Adam Flynn (0-1) for E O'Shea, produced another 2-5 between them!.  

Back in mid-field Jordan Molloy and Luke Hogan dominated. Jordan popped up everywhere. He's pin point intelligent  passing laying the platform for the forwards scorefest and managed to squeeze in 2 points of his own for good measure. It was some performance by the lad.  Not one player throughout the field could be faulted for their efforts.  The message clearly from the line was work rate will yield reward.... and work they all did. Jamie Ryan hooked and blocked at wing forward putting every clearance under severe pressure forcing many errors or just stifling any opportunuity for a Ballycallan attack. When an attack did transpire the defensive unit of Conor Heary, Sean Kenny, Oisín Murphy, Mikey Butler, Ronan Buckley and Barry Lawlor were on it like wildfire. Barry Lawlor was emmense..he has grown in to his full back role with natural maturity. Conor Heary pulled the strings around centre back and the support play from mid-field demonstrated a unified approach that this group has in achieving their ultimate goal.  

Goal Keeper David McCormack pulled off a fine save on the 10th minute of the second half when Ballycallan were endeavouring to make an impact.  It was justice for a fine keeper who rarely gets the credit for safeguarding this teams net..when called upon he produces the goods. 

We now look forward to a County Final on Sunday (Nowlan Park at 1pm )against James Stephens. It's not to be missed...They deserve a win but still need to put in the hard yards for 65minutes or so. Nothing will come easy and James Stephens will not be there to make up numbers. Full concentration..committment and hurling guile will be required...and full support too. 

Well done all...lovely hurling. 

​

Manager: Brian Dowling
Selectors: Paul Phelan, Paul Cleere, Conor Bergin, James O'Keefe
Mentors: John Sheridan, Eoghan Croughan.

Sponsors : MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre

Semi-Final
Ballyhale 2-19 to 0-5 O'Loughlin Gaels

Tough conditions in Castlecomer today saw out boys just loose out on the points against a tough Mooneenroe side. The score stood at Mooneenroe 2-6 to 1-6 O'Loughlin Gaels GAA

The Following Draw was made on Wednesday Evening for this years Minor Championships.

Best of luck to all our players and management teams

​
U18 Roinn A

PRELIM A Erins Own v OLoughlin Gaels

1/4 FINAL B Dicksboro v A
1/4 FINAL C Ballyhale v Lisdowney
1/4 FINAL D Thomastown v James Stephens
1/4 FNAL E Bennetsbridge v Graigue Ballycallan

SEMI FINAL F B v E
SEMI FINAL G D v C


U18 Roinn C

PRELIM A Blacks & Whites v Slieverue
PRELIM B Dicksboro B v James Stephens B
PRELIM C Carrickshock v Tullogher Rosbercon

1/4 final D B v St Patricks
1/4 final E Conahy v OLoughlin Gaels B
1/4 final F A v Tullaroan
1/4 final G C v Cloneen / Railyard

Semi final H E v F
Semi final I D v G

O'Loughlin Gaels 2-14 to 0-12 Mooncoon

O’Loughlin Gaels minors learned a few valuable lessons on Saturday evening in a breezy Ballyhale to overcome Mooncoin in the first of this year’s County Semi-Finals. Mooncoin put on a fine first half performance with their mid-field duo taking advantage of the strong breeze and some wayward marksmanship by the O’Loughlins attack. The men from the south headed into the second half with a six point advantage. The second half proved  different story however with the O’Loughlin’s forwards finding their radar. In truth the delivery to the forwards was much improved from the first half probably due to the strong breeze. Pat Byrne was introduced into the action at half time and quickly made an impact with a fine goal six mins into the half. Cian Loy soon found his scoring prowess and pointed his second of three points two minutes later. Sean Bolger was flying thoughout the game and pointed for the second time next. The game was definitely turning in the St. Johns side favour now and some fine performances were popping up around the field. Conor Heary and Robbie Buckley were dominating their areas and providing intelligent ball to a now confident attack. Shane Maher pointed three of his frees and Cian Loy found the net thirteen minutes into the second half that eased the sizeable St. Johns support. It was a professional ending to the half from then on and the lads eased to a county Final date in two weeks time. Well done to all involved and  good luck.
Team:
Ben Maher , Jordan Molloy, Gary Bryan, Jay Leahy, Jack Lawler, Robbie Buckley, Conor Heary, Thomas Gleeson, Shane Mahon, Ross Butler, Sean Bolger, Daniel O'Connor, Shane Maher, Tervine Wallace, Cian Loy, Pat Byrne, Robbie O'Driscoll, Eoin Wall