Kilkenny SHL: O'Loughlin Gaels and Glenmore serve up a thriller

O’Loughlin Gaels just edged Glenmore in a highly entertaining St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League tie in
Mullinavat on Saturday evening. The Southerners will rue missing some late scoring chances, in particular a brilliant save by Stephen Murphy who deflected a goal bound shot from sub Jason Cody over the bar.

The winners got a big return from their substitutes, particularly Conor Heary who brought a lot of energy to midfield and landed two vital points. The impact of those subs ultimately decided the outcome of this game.

The city side made a good start with early points from Eoin O’Shea and Conor Kelly. Kelly was a constant threat to Glenmore and landed some sublime points during the game. He was helped by some astute distribution of the sliotar into his corner forward spot especially in the first half. The excellent Ian Byrne landed the first of his eleven points for Glenmore on four minutes.

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Some neat passing from the 2023 champions saw Jordan Molloy land another point on five minutes with Paddy Deegan, playing at centre half forward, adding to that tally to edge the city side three points ahead.

Cathal Beirne was a constant threat to the O'Loughlin Gaels defence and he scored the first of his six points from play on seven minutes. One minute later Glenmore’s full back Eoin Aylward broke from defence and in a neat passing move with colleagues he popped over one of the points of the game on eight minutes.

The city club were heavily dependent on Conor Kelly for scores with Mikey Butler moving up the field to raise a white flag on
twelve minutes to leave a goal between the teams. The superb Huw Lawlor operated at full back, but moved regularly out the field to set up scoring opportunities for colleagues.

If the Loughs edged the first quarter, Glenmore were on top in the second quarter. Shane Murphy was pivotal at centre half
back with Ian Byrne and Cathal Beirne continuing to torment the winner’s defence.

The O'Loughlin Gaels goalkeeper Stephen Murphy came to his side’s rescue on twenty-nine minutes when he saved superbly from Charlie Phelan.

The city side struggled for scores in the second quarter, landing just four points, all of which came from Conor Kelly. With the clock ebbing towards half time, two late rallies from Glenmore saw lively cornet forward Ethan Phelan and Cathal Beirne score points to see their side ahead 0-14 to 0-13 at the interval.

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Brian Hogan's men lost Tony Forristal and Jack Nolan to injuries at the interval, but their replacements Conor Heary and Jamie Ryan made telling impacts in the second half. Eoin Murphy in the Glenmore goal came to his side’s rescue on nine minutes with a brilliant double save to deny O'Loughlin Gaels a goal.

The winners looked to have weathered the Glenmore storm towards the end of the third quarter with points from David
Fogarty, Conor Kelly and Conor Heery to see them two points ahead, but that lead had evaporated within four minutes with Ian Byrne (free) and Cathal Beirne tying matters once again on fifty-one minutes. One minute later Ian Byrne had
the Southerners ahead with another point.

The next couple of points would prove crucial in deciding the outcome of the game. The OLG defence took a firm grip
on the contest and with a liberal supply of the ball heading towards the Glenmore goal, they added five points without reply through Conor Kelly (two, one a free), Paddy Deegan, Conor Heary and Alex Sheridan.

Ian Byrne replied with a pointed free and moments later came the Jason Cody shot which was brilliantly deflected over
the bar by Stephen Murphy. Injury time saw Fionan Mackessy and Alan Murphy trade points, with the winners more
than relieved to hear referee Eoin Kenny blow the final whistle for a victory that was just about deserved.

More club league/championship coverage in this week's Kilkenny People...

O'Loughlin Gaels - Conor Kelly (0-11, 0-6 frees); Fionan Mackessy (0-3); Conor Heery, David Fogarty; Paddy Deegan (0-2) each; Eoin O’Shea, Jordan Molloy, Jamie Ryan, Mikey Butler & Alex Sheridan (0-1, each).

Glenmore - Ian Byrne (0-11, 0-7 frees; 0-2 65’s); Cathal Beirne (0-6); Charlie Phelan (0-2); Ethan Phelan, Eoin Aylward, Jason Cody; Alan Murphy (0-1, each).