GAELS FORCE IT IN END WITH HOGAN HEART
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BOSS Brian Hogan said O’loughlin Gaels relied upon steel more than silk whilst clinching their latest Leinster title.
Mark Bergin’s 60th minute point from a free, and 0-11 haul, helped secure a third title for the Kilkenny city club.
But it was tough on first-time Dublin champions Na Fianna who contributed to a cracker that was level eight times.
Sean Currie struck Na Fianna’s goal in the 38th minute and they were ahead or level for the remainder of the half – until Bergin’s winner.
There was a huge performance too from O’loughlin Gaels and Kilkenny centre-back Paddy Deegan who rifled 0-5. The 2011 All-ireland finalists now find themselves back in a national semi-final and will play the Ulster champions in a fortnight.
Former club and county star Hogan (inset, with son Jack) said: “Na Fianna certainly caused us problems with their off-loading game, how they were coming at us.
“We spoke about composure and I think at certain periods we lacked that, we lunged in on tackles and we gave away some soft frees and different things whereas in the county final there was a bit more of a flow to it in terms of what we were trying to do, there was a bit more consistency to it.
“We never really got into a flow that we would have liked today. That’s obviously all credit to Na Fianna. It came down to pure heart in the end and digging out a result.”
Na Fianna will have nightmares about coming so close to a landmark win. The Currie brothers were terrific for them up front and former Limerick All-ireland medallist Brian Ryan registered 0-3 from midfield. Sean Currie’s goal was the first to be scored against O’loughlin Gaels in the province.
Niall O Ceallachain’s side couldn’t hold on though and the Gaels ensured that the title remains in Kilkenny for a fifth consecutive year.
O’loughlin Gaels hit the interval with a 0-11 to 0-9 lead but two Colin Currie points tied it up after the restart.
Currie then set up his brother Sean who cut back inside All-star fullback Huw Lawlor for a cracking Na Fianna goal.
They led for much of the remainder but were agonisingly overtaken just as the finish line loomed with Luke Hogan and Bergin points winning it for the Gaels.
TEAMS & SCORERS
GAELS: S Murphy; T Forristal, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Fogarty (0-2), P Deegan (0-5), J Molloy; J Nolan (0-1), C Loy (0-1); C Heary (0-1), M Bergin (0-11, 9f), E O’shea; P Butler, O Wall, S Bolger. SUBS: L Hogan (0-1) for P Butler 26, C Kelly for Loy 49, J Ryan for Nolan 54. NA FIANNA: J Treacy; S Burke, C Mchugh, D Clerkin; P O’dea, L Rushe, K Burke; B Ryan (0-3), P Feeney; J Tierney (0-1), M Murphy, S Currie (1-1); C Stacey, AJ Murphy (0-2), C Currie (0-11, 9f). SUBS: D Ryan for O’dea 13, S Barrett for Feeney 46, S Baxter for Stacey 53, G King for Tierney 60. SUBS: C Flynn (Westmeath).