Late McEvoy winner as Gaels stun Shamrocks

FIVE turned out to be an unlucky number in Kilkenny again as reigning champions Ballyhale Shamrocks were dumped out of the championship courtesy of a late goal by Niall McEvoy in a thrilling second semi-final at Nowlan Park yesterday.

Four-in-a-row was the record held jointly by this Ballyhale team and a Carrickshock combination of the 1940s. But five proved one too many and it must have been with a sense of déjà vu that Ballyhale players James Cha Fitzpatrick, TJ and Eoin Reid, Michael Fennelly and Henry Shefflin (on crutches on the sideline) saw this particular drive for five crash in the closing moments.

But no one can say it was an undeserved victory for O’Loughlin Gaels. They hurled well throughout, absorbed the concession of some psychologically damaging goals, and still managed to come out on top and halt history in its tracks again. When O’Loughlin Gaels look back on this game the critical contributions of midfielder Maurice Nolan and corner-forward Danny Loughnane will be the abiding images. Perhaps not as lauded as some of the other giants that stepped onto this field yesterday but Nolan with a five-star midfield performance (including four points from play) and Loughnane playing what many observers said was his greatest ever game for the Gaels, more than punched their weight.

Throw in the returning Brian Hogan to anchor the defence, a thorn up front in Martin Comerford and a deadly free-taker in Mark Bergin and you have the recipe for success.

The Shamrocks played in fits and starts and after four years at the top including some very long campaigns, they looked a bit tired at stages and who can blame them? Cha Fitzpatrick, who played at wingback, and Michael Fennelly along with the Reid brothers TJ and Eoin were their mainstays, but even that wasn’t enough on this day. With the general (Shefflin) off the field, his absence was keenly felt not for the first time this season. The early stages were shadow-boxing for what was to come later as Ballyhale’s first four scores came from frees by TJ Reid but O’Loughlin Gaels were doing more of the hurling with points from play from Danny Loughnane, Maurice Nolan and Alan Geoghegan.

A surging run by Brian Hogan set up midfielder Nolan for another point and there was a palpable sense, at this stage, that the Shamrocks would really have to work for this one. TJ Reid got their first score from play showing a bit of class near the sideline but Danny Loughnane bested this just a minute later with a bit of magic on the end line.

Receiving the ball very wide and with no obvious opening available he drove in along the end line and shot from the narrowest of angles into the far corner of the net for a crucial and confidence-building goal. He popped up again seconds later with another point and O’Loughlin Gaels were cruising at 1-8 to 0-5 when the All Ireland club champions struck for a vital goal just before the break. A free from TJ Reid was expertly doubled on to the roof of the net to leave the champions in touch at the break trailing by 1-10 to 1-6.

Shamrocks quickly closed the gap to two points on the restart with scores from David Hoyne and Eoin Reid but Nolan was having a stormer at midfield and he stretched the lead a little again with a long range point. The game seemed to turn dramatically in favour of the champions midway through the second-half when Michael Fennelly, with a marauding run up the centre crashed an unstoppable shot to the net for the equaliser.

The challengers were dealt another hammer blow three minutes later when Eoin Reid contested a dirty ball and finished from a crowd of players into the corner of the net to give his side the lead (3-10 to 1-14) for the first time since the second minute of the game.

But just as it seemed as if their ship was sinking, Nolan struck a point and then free-taker Mark Bergin pointed to level the scores with ten minutes to go. And in a welter of excitement Niall McEvoy got a vital touch on a Mark Bergin free to find the net and though they were out on their feet by the finish, O’Loughlin Gaels deservedly held out for a famous and history-shattering victory.

Scorers O’Loughlin Gaels: D Loughnane 1-3, M Bergin 0-6 (0-4 frees 0-1 65), M Nolan 0-4, N McEvoy 1-1, A Geoghegan 0-2.

Scorers Ballyhale Shamrocks: E Reid 2-1, TJ Reid 0-5 (0-4 frees), M Fennelly 1-0, D Hoyne 0-2, J Walsh, J ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS: S Murphy, B Kelly, A Kerins, E Kerins, A O’Brien, B Hogan, N Bergin, P Dowling, M Nolan, A Geoghegan, N McEvoy, M Bergin, B Dowling, M Comerford, D Loughnane. Subs: S Cummins for B Dowling (49 mins),

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J Connolly, A Cuddihy, A Cummins, T Coogan, J ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, E Wlash, B Aylward, J Holden, M Fennelly, J Walsh, C Fennedlly, TJ Reid, M Aylward, E Reid, D Hoyne. Subs. P Reid for J Walsh (44 mins), B Costelloe for M Aylward (54 mins).

Referee: Paddy Dunphy (Carrigeen).