O'LOUGHLIN GAELS UNDER 14s ARE COUNTY CHAMPIONS
The O'Loughlin Gaels Under 14 team completed the Kilkenny treble last weekend when adding the Championship title to the League and Paddy Grace titles already won earlier in the season.This team has grown both in size and and skill level since starting out in February and in no small way great credit should go to coaches Mick Nolan,Bryan Skehan,Seamie Cummins,Stephen Murphy and especially manager Maurice Nolan. The Championship decider was a repeat of the League Final. James Stephens provided the opposition and started the scoring off with a pointed free from Ryan Scanlon. O'Loughlins meant business and ,instantaneously, their forwards were camped on the Village goal mouth for what seemed like an age but raised no flag. They were to outscore the Village 9 points to 3 in the opening half with five different boys scoring. Free taker Ben Maher converted the first chance he got, while stylish forward Eoin Wall put over two beauties in the first half. Outstanding centre back and O'Loughlin Gaels captain,Jordan Molloy, was rewarded for his efforts with a fine individual point half way through the first half. The star man in the middle of the field was Ronan Buckley who was to finish with a personal tally of 5 points from play 4 of which he scored in the first half. He was simply brilliant. Full forward Adam Flynn was also on the score sheet in act one with a point . He too was unstoppable when in possession near the goal and had a very good game adding another fine score in the second half. The Village could only manage two more frees from Ryan Scanlon leaving the half time score O'Loughlin Gaels 0.9 James Stephens 0.3.The second act began where the first ended and the ref hadn't the whistle blown to restart when Ben Maher blocked down Sean Manogue in the Village goal and the ball was in the back of the James Stephens goal. The classy Eoin Wall added another minor to further increase the gap to ten points with 25 minutes to play. Fair play to the Village lads they began to rally and got on top mid way through the second half with good scores coming through Adam Morrissey,Sam Hickey and Niall Brassill. But the superior O'Loughlin Gaels forwards were scoring at ease. Ben Maher(2),Eoin Wall and Adam Flynn scored the next four points to leave eleven between the teams with ten minutes remaining. Sam Hickey pointed with eight minutes to go but the Gaels were not going to be caught with Ben Maher,Ronan Buckley and Eoin Wall finishing out the scoring for a continentals tally of 1.17. Big Robert Butler got on the end of ball at the death for a tap in consolation goal for the Villagers. Final score O'Loughlin Gaels 1.17 James Stephens 1.07This was another brilliant display by this squad of players from O'Loughlin Gaels. As well as those mentioned the outstanding full back line of Shane Reilly,John Delaney and Mickey Butler should have no end of praise heaped on them . They were impenetrable. Delaney the big man to stop all incoming attacks with his two delightfully skillful flankers sweeping the area of any loose ball.Thanks to them goal keeper Jamie Malone's county final was all rather quiet. Ian Clifford and Luke Hogan were brilliant on the half back line alongside the superb Jordan Molloy. At midfield Eoin O Shea and Ronan Buckley were always on top. Against James Stephens' strongest line Eoin Neary,sub Sean Kenny,Ryan Poyntz and the exciting Dacel Fwamba worked their hardest to the very end. In the full forward line Ben Maher Adam Flynn and Eoin Wall scored a grand total of 1.11 between them. They do exactly what they are supposed to do ! This team also played without one of their stand out men Conor Heary. Conor was exceptional at Feile na nGael but got injured in a freak accident afterwards. He is well on the road to recovery but time ran out for him to fight for a starting place in the final. There will be plenty more days for him and indeed all the boys on the under 14 panels in O'Loughlin Gaels.O'LOUGHLIN GAELS; Jamie Malone,Shane O Reilly,John Delaney,Mickey Butler,Ian Clifford,Jordan Molloy(0.1),Luke Hogan,Ronan Buckley(0.5),Eoin O Shea,Eoin Neary,Ryan Poyntz,Dacel Fwamba,Ben Maher(1.4),AdamFlynn(0.2), Eoin Wall(0.5). Subs David McCormack,Padraig Nolan,Barry Lawlor,Joe Murphy,Jack Kearns,Oisin Murphy,Jamie Ryan,Robert Boyd,Sean Kenny,John Collins,Mathew Russell,Odhran Lawlor,Conor Heary (inj).
The O'Loughlin Gaels Under 14 team completed the Kilkenny treble last weekend when adding the Championship title to the League and Paddy Grace titles already won earlier in the season.This team has grown both in size and and skill level since starting out in February and in no small way great credit should go to coaches Mick Nolan,Bryan Skehan,Seamie Cummins,Stephen Murphy and especially manager Maurice Nolan. The Championship decider was a repeat of the League Final. James Stephens provided the opposition and started the scoring off with a pointed free from Ryan Scanlon. O'Loughlins meant business and ,instantaneously, their forwards were camped on the Village goal mouth for what seemed like an age but raised no flag. They were to outscore the Village 9 points to 3 in the opening half with five different boys scoring. Free taker Ben Maher converted the first chance he got, while stylish forward Eoin Wall put over two beauties in the first half. Outstanding centre back and O'Loughlin Gaels captain,Jordan Molloy, was rewarded for his efforts with a fine individual point half way through the first half. The star man in the middle of the field was Ronan Buckley who was to finish with a personal tally of 5 points from play 4 of which he scored in the first half. He was simply brilliant. Full forward Adam Flynn was also on the score sheet in act one with a point . He too was unstoppable when in possession near the goal and had a very good game adding another fine score in the second half. The Village could only manage two more frees from Ryan Scanlon leaving the half time score O'Loughlin Gaels 0.9 James Stephens 0.3.The second act began where the first ended and the ref hadn't the whistle blown to restart when Ben Maher blocked down Sean Manogue in the Village goal and the ball was in the back of the James Stephens goal. The classy Eoin Wall added another minor to further increase the gap to ten points with 25 minutes to play. Fair play to the Village lads they began to rally and got on top mid way through the second half with good scores coming through Adam Morrissey,Sam Hickey and Niall Brassill. But the superior O'Loughlin Gaels forwards were scoring at ease. Ben Maher(2),Eoin Wall and Adam Flynn scored the next four points to leave eleven between the teams with ten minutes remaining. Sam Hickey pointed with eight minutes to go but the Gaels were not going to be caught with Ben Maher,Ronan Buckley and Eoin Wall finishing out the scoring for a continentals tally of 1.17. Big Robert Butler got on the end of ball at the death for a tap in consolation goal for the Villagers. Final score O'Loughlin Gaels 1.17 James Stephens 1.07This was another brilliant display by this squad of players from O'Loughlin Gaels. As well as those mentioned the outstanding full back line of Shane Reilly,John Delaney and Mickey Butler should have no end of praise heaped on them . They were impenetrable. Delaney the big man to stop all incoming attacks with his two delightfully skillful flankers sweeping the area of any loose ball.Thanks to them goal keeper Jamie Malone's county final was all rather quiet. Ian Clifford and Luke Hogan were brilliant on the half back line alongside the superb Jordan Molloy. At midfield Eoin O Shea and Ronan Buckley were always on top. Against James Stephens' strongest line Eoin Neary,sub Sean Kenny,Ryan Poyntz and the exciting Dacel Fwamba worked their hardest to the very end. In the full forward line Ben Maher Adam Flynn and Eoin Wall scored a grand total of 1.11 between them. They do exactly what they are supposed to do ! This team also played without one of their stand out men Conor Heary. Conor was exceptional at Feile na nGael but got injured in a freak accident afterwards. He is well on the road to recovery but time ran out for him to fight for a starting place in the final. There will be plenty more days for him and indeed all the boys on the under 14 panels in O'Loughlin Gaels.O'LOUGHLIN GAELS; Jamie Malone,Shane O Reilly,John Delaney,Mickey Butler,Ian Clifford,Jordan Molloy(0.1),Luke Hogan,Ronan Buckley(0.5),Eoin O Shea,Eoin Neary,Ryan Poyntz,Dacel Fwamba,Ben Maher(1.4),AdamFlynn(0.2), Eoin Wall(0.5). Subs David McCormack,Padraig Nolan,Barry Lawlor,Joe Murphy,Jack Kearns,Oisin Murphy,Jamie Ryan,Robert Boyd,Sean Kenny,John Collins,Mathew Russell,Odhran Lawlor,Conor Heary (inj).