Clara 2-12
O’Loughlin Gaels 1-13

Trevor Spillane reports from Nowlan Park.

CONOR O’SHEA WAS was the toast of Clara after his goal helped the men in maroon lift their second Kilkenny senior hurling title in three years.

O’Shea’s strike, which came five minutes into the second half, proved decisive as Clara fashioned a lead they wouldn’t lose against O’Loughlin Gaels in Nowlan Park.

The corner-forward showed great presence to pounce after Lester Ryan’s long ball spilled loose in the square, finishing past Stephen Murphy to make it 2-10 to 1-10.

Clara had made a similarly fast start to the first half, fashioning a five-point lead inside the opening 10 minutes (1-3 to 0-1), much of which was down to Ciaran Prendergast’s sixth minute goal.

Clara captain Keith Hogan embraces his brother Brian Hogan of O'Loughlin Gaels at the end of the game. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

They would go six clear soon after, but O’Loughlin’s were back on level terms by the end of the first quarter, Danny Loughnane’s 12th minute goal and a string of Mark Bergin points doing the recovery work. Bergin had a big half for O’Loughlin’s, scoring eight of their nine points but there was nothing between the sides as they went in all square at the interval (1-9 to 1-9).

The stalemate was broken when O’Shea bagged his goal within minutes of the restart. It was a score which would prove decisive, as Clara used it and the breeze to keep O’Loughlin’s at arm’s length.

The city side fought back, Martin Comerford and Sammy Johnson making it a one-point game, but a booming Keith Hogan pointed free steadied Clara and helped them make a winning charge, even when finishing with 14 men after the late dismissal of Sean O’Shea for a second yellow card.

Scorers for Clara: Conor O’Shea (1-2); Liam Ryan (0-4); Ciaran Prendergast (1-0); Keith Hogan (0-3, 0-2 frees); Chris Bolger, Lester Ryan, David Langton (0-1 each).

Scorers for O’Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (0-8, 0-7 frees); Danny Loughnane (1-0); Martin Comerford, David Burke, Sammy Johnson, Stephen Murphy, Jack Nolan (0-1 each).

Clara

1 Killian Phelan

2 Dermot Nolan
4 Sean O’Shea
17 Tom Ryan

5 Neal Prendergast
3 Shane Prendergast
7 David Langton

8 Lester Ryan
9 Jack Langton

10 Conor O’Shea
11 Keith Hogan
12 Liam Ryan

13 Jason Byrne
14 Chris Bolger
18 Ciaran Prendergast

Sub:
15 John Murphy for C. Prendergast, 60 mins.

O’Loughlin Gaels

1 Stephen Murphy

2 Anthony Forristal
3 Andy Kearns
4 Eddie Kearns

5 Huw Lawlor
6 Brian Hogan
7 Paddy Deegan

8 Mark Bergin
9 Shane Mahony

10 David Burke
11 Eoghan Grant
12 Martin Comerford

13 Sammy Johnson
14 Danny Loughnane
15 Mark Kelly

Subs:
19 Jack Nolan for Mahony, 31 mins
20 Alan O’Brien for Lawlor, 31 mins
18 Conor Bergin for Kelly, 47 mins
23 Daniel O’Connor for Grant, 53 mins

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