O'Loughlin Gaels Minor County Champions 2017. Back Row l-r Odhran Lawlor, Jamie Malone, Oisin Murphy, Robert Boyd, Sean Baird, Joe Murphy, Jamie Young, Mathew Russell, BArry Lawlor, Jake Fahy, Darragh Larkin, Adam Flynn Middle Row l-r: Paul Phelan, Conor Bergin (Selectors) Podge Nolan, John Nolan, Joe 'Spudy' Murphy, Fiachra O'Callaghan, Sean Kenny, Johnny Collins, Jack Kearns, Conor Kelly, Mark Twomey, Mikey Butler, James O'Keefe (Selector), Jordan Molloy, Paul Cleere (Selctor) Eoghan Bergin (Medic) Front Row l-r: Ryan Poyntz, Ben Maher, Jamie Young, Dacel Fwamba,Conor Heary, Ronan Buckley (Captain), Eoin O'Shea, Eoin Wall, Luke Hogan, David Fogarty, Niall Higgins, David McCormack, Arron O'Brien, Brian Dowling (Manager)
O'loughlin Gaels 3-15 to 0-17 James Stephens
Nowlan Park October 29th at 1pm
Referee : Gay Rafter
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
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.
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
O'Loughlin Gaels GAA congratulates them all, their management team and their familes.
Lovely hurling