Heartbreak and anger for O'Loughlins as St Thomas win All-Ireland Club Title

O'Loughlin Gaels dream of winning an All-Ireland senior club title fell at the final hurdle when losing out to St Thomas of Galway in a chaotic and controversial championship final at Croke Park.

A wonder point from Eanna Burke in the final minute gave the St Thomas men victory but the Kilkenny and Leinster champions still had a chance to force extra-time but Mark Bergin knocked a difficult free wide of the goal.

O'Loughlins will look back on the All-Ireland decider with huge regret after they played the majority of the second half against 14 men after James Regan was sent off for a high challenge on Jack Nolan.

Most annoying of all for the Kilkenny side was the non award of a goal to Owen Wall who appeared to shoot the sliotar over the line but the umpires were slightly out of position and much to their dismay both on and off the pitch, the three point attempt wasn't awarded.

O'Loughlins were playing superb hurling during that spell with their half back line of David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan and Jordan Molloy scoring freely from play.

St Thomas were led by David Burke and Conor Cooney and they stayed in the contest to only trail by two points at the break (0-10 to 0-8).

James Regan's dismissal arrived within minutes of the resumption and despite using the numerical advantage to their benefit, O'Loughlins were on the backfoot for a lot of the second half.

O'Loughlins were never going to go away lightly though and successive points from Mark Bergin, Luke Hogan and David Fogarty had the sides deadlocked but unfortunatley it was the 2013 All-Ireland winners who had the final say more than a decade on after their first title.

O'Loughlins can look back on a hugely successful season that saw them bring home Kilkenny and Leinster crowns but this an opportunity that will sting for a while yet.

Teams and Scorers

St Thomas- Conor Cooney (0-6, four frees); Eanna Burke, David Burke (0-3 each); James Regan, Victor Manso (0-2 each); Gerald Kelly (0-1, one free), Cathal Burke (0-1)

O'Loughlin Gaels- Mark Bergin (0-4, two frees); Sean Bolger, David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy (0-2 each); Stephen Murphy (0-1, one free); Mikey Butler, Conor Heary, Luke Hogan, Conor Kelly (0-1 each)

St Thomas- Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke, David Sherry; John Headd, Shane Cooney, Cathal Burke; Damien Finnerty, David Burke; Darragh Burke, Conor Cooney, Victor Manso; James Regan, Eanna Burke, Oisin Flannery.

Subs- Evan Duggan for Sherry, 19 mins; Bernard Burke for Manso, 49 mins; Damien McGlynn for Flannery, 57 mins.

O'Loughlin Gaels- Stephen Murphy; Tony Forristal, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy; Jack Nolan, Cian Loy; Conor Heary, Mark Bergin, Eoin O'Shea; Sean Bolger, Luke Hogan, Owen Wall.

Subs- Conor Kelly for O'Shea, 46 mins; Jamie Ryan for Nolan, 50 mins; Paddy Butler for Loy, 57 mins.

Referee- Sean Stack (Dublin)