19 February 2011
Loughgiel failed to overcome a strong O'Loughlin Gaels team this afternoon in Parnell Park.
Trailing by just 3 at half-time, the Shamrocks missed crucial points and a clear goal opportunity at the beginning of the second half which ultimately sapped their confidence.
On the other hand, the Gaels converted practically every opportunity that came their way including a rather fortuitous second goal to leave just too much for the Shamrocks to over come.
FROM BBC:
Loughgiel paid for missed chances as O'Loughlin Gaels won Saturday's All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-final.
Gaels moved 0-3 to 0-1 ahead and Liam Watson wasted a Loughgiel chance as he unwisely went for goal from a free.
The Kilkenny side led 0-6 to 0-3 at the break and Brendan McGarry was inches away from levelling after the restart.
Peter Dowling's goal put Gaels nine up, and as Loughgiel squandered more chances, Danny Loughnane and Alan Geoghegan added late goals.
The sticky Parnell Park pitch meant that attractive hurling was never in prospect although both teams showed plenty of endeavour - especially in a frantic first half.
Mark Bergin opened the scoring for O'Loughlin Gaels before Watson levelled for Loughgiel.
However, Watson's afternoon took a turn for the worse as he appeared to defy instructions by going for goal from the 20-metre free when Loughgiel were 0-3 to 0-1 down.
Brian Downling's free extended Gaels' lead to three but there was the minimum between the sides a minute before the break after scores from Eddie McCloskey and Watson.
However, mistakes gifted the Leinster champions two points in first-half injury which left three between the sides at the break.
The key moment of the match came within a minute of the restart.
Substitute Alex Watt's long ball was spilled by O'Loughlin goalkeeper Stephen Murphy but the custodian somehow got back to clear as Brendan McGarry seemed certain to poke the ball into the empty net.
Loughgiel missed two further great chances for points in the opening minutes of the second half and were punished for their profligacy as Niall McAvoy (two) and Danny Loughnane quickly tagged on scores to leave the margin at six.
Watson's struggles continued as he fired wide from play and a 65 before Eddie McCloskey got Loughgiel scoring again - although replays indicated that his shot had also been a wide.
But the game was effectively up for Loughgiel when Peter Dowling lashed in a Gaels goal from close range after Neil McGarry had bravely blocked his initial rasping shot.
After Watson missed another sitter free, Loughgiel rallied briefly as Brendan McGarry, Joey Scullion and Barney McAuley struck unanswered points.
But any doubt about the outcome was erased when Loughnane poached Gaels' second goal after the unlucky Neil McGarry had failed to hold keeper Stephen Murphy's massive free from his own half.
To their credit, Loughgiel kept battling right to the end and Geoghegan's late goal probably gave the scoreline a harsh look.
FROM RTE:
Kilkenny champions O'Loughlin Gaels stormed through to the All-Ireland Club SHC final with a nine points win over Loughgiel at Parnell Park.
They have earned a reputation as a second half side, and once again, they came good when it mattered, squeezing the Antrim men out of the game.
Peter Dowling, Alan Geoghan and Danny Loughnane struck the second half goals that ended the dream of the Shamrocks, the only Ulster side ever to have won an All-Ireland title.
The Kilkenny men got off to a flying start with a handful of long range points from Mark Bergin and Maurice Nolan.
And they were denied a goal in the sixth minute when Bergin sent Danny Loughnane clear, but goalkeeper Damien 'DD' Quinn produced a stunning save.
Liam Watson's neat strike was Loughgiel's only score of the opening 10 minutes, and the Antrim star struck for goal from a 20 metre free, apparently against the instructions of manager PJ O'Mullan, only to see his effort kept out.
While Nolan and Peter Dowling gave the Leinster champions the edge at midfield, they failed to turn territorial advantage into scores, and found themselves leading by just two points after 20 minutes.
And they were denied a goal for a second time when Barney McAuley timed his tackle perfectly on Brian Dowling.
Gaels hadn't scored for 17 minutes when Dowling swung over a 22nd minute point, but that score was cancelled out within seconds by Eddie McCloskey, before Watson narrowed to a point from a free.
A late burst saw Bergin and Nolan tag on point to send Gaels in with a 0-06 to 0-03 interval lead, and they tightened their grip with quickfire scores from Niall McEvoy (2) and Loughnane immediately after the restart.
However, that was only after Brendan McCarry had a golden goal chance at the other end, but goalkeeper Stephen Murray's slight touch proved decisive.
As Brian Hogan became more influential at the heart of the Gaels defence, Loughgiel's attacking momentum dipped, and the Kilkenny men struck a decisive blow in the 41st minute when Peter Dowling grabbed a goal, netting at the second attempt after his initial effort was blocked down by Neill McGarry.
Loughgiel responded with a volley of scores, including a long range free from corner back Barney McAuley, but their challenge was dead in the water when Danny Loughnane grabbed a second goal from close range after the Shamrocks defence had failed to clear a booming delivery from goalkeeper Stephen Murphy.
Gaels went through to the 17 March showpiece in some style when Alan Geoghegan drilled home a third goal five minutes from the end.
O' Loughlin Gaels: S Murphy, B Kelly, B Murphy, E Kearns, A O'Brien, B Hogan, N Bergin, P Dowling (1-00), M Nolan (0-02), N McEvoy (0-02), M Bergin (0-03, 1f), A Geoghegan (1-00), B Dowling (0-01), M Comerford (0-01), D Loughnane (1-01).
Subs: S Cummins for Dowling, C Bergin for Geoghegan, E Grant for B Murphy
Loughgiel: D Quinn, P Gillan, N McGarry, B McAuley (0-2, 1f), M McFadden, Johnny Campbell, M Scullion, D Laverty, L McKillop, E McCloskey (0-2), James Campbell, A McCloskey, B McGarry (0-01), J Scullion (0-01), L Watson (0-03, 2f).
Subs: A Watt (0-01) for A McCloskey, C McKinley for James Campbell, D Laverty for B McGarry.
Referee: C McAllister (Cork).