Brilliant Bergin blows Tullaroan away

BEATEN All-Ireland finalists O’Loughlin-Gaels are the only team with a 100% record in the two groups of the Kilkenny Senior League after three rounds.

The Gaels blew away Tommy Walsh’s Tullaroan on Saturday evening, winning a game with a bit of an edge to it by 0-21 to 0-16. Centre-forward Mark Bergin was the main man for the winners. He scored 0-11 and was simply too hot for the losers to handle.

There was speculation in Kilkenny last week that county boss Brian Cody may be thinking about switching Tommy Walsh into the attack and Walsh added to it by scoring four points from play.

Cody would have been pleased too with the showing of Henry Shefflin, who started his first club game since last August, and he was the key man in Shamrocks (Ballyhale) easy 2-15 to 1-9 win over Fenians (Johnstown).

Shefflin looked sharp, scoring 0-6 (three frees). He has now played two matches and will definitely be in the frame for a starting place on the Kilkenny team for the Leinster semi-final on June 11.

Clara, who had been without a win or a point up to the weekend, showed their best form in at least three seasons when ripping through unbeaten Graigue-Ballycallan and winning by a not at all flattering 1-21 to 2-12. The losers pulled back their goals during the closing four minutes.

Clara opened like an express train. They led by 1-7 to 0-2 after 15 minutes, and 1-14 to 0-4 at the break. Liam Ryan, Keith Hogan and David Langton were all in powerful form. Graigue’s number was up even at this early stage.

Helped by goals from Michael Rohan (two), Jamie Power and Richie Power, Carrickshock, the beaten county finalists, scored a handy 4-10 to 0-13 win over Dicksboro. Goals coming up to the interval from Jamie Power and Rohan were crucial as they led the Boro 3-6 to 0-3 down at the break after playing against the wind.

Top scorers in the league during the opening two rounds, James Stephens came crashing back to earth when beaten by 0-15 to 0-13 by Erin’s Own (Castlcomer). The winners worked their socks off, and their all action approach proved too much for the Niall Rigney managed side.

The remaining game between St Martin’s (Muckalee) and Dunnamaggin ended in a high-scoring draw, 1-17 to 2-14.