Mark Bergin’s lucky strike sends O’Loughlin Gaels into overdrive

Oulart-The-Ballagh (Wexford) 0-17 O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 3-17: The emphatic nature of this O’Loughlin Gaels’ victory was made all the more remarkable by the fact they didn’t score for the opening 12 minutes, after which they trailed by five points.

But for a fortunate 20th minute second goal they may have found themselves with too much to do to beat the reigning Leinster champions but that Mark Bergin score propelled them to bigger and better things and they were deserving semi-final victors.

Bergin’s switch from full-forward to the middle of the field was instrumental in the Kilkenny city club claiming their first provincial final appearance in six years. The county panellist was excellent in a playmaking role as his team eventually out-thought an Oulart-the-Ballagh outfit that had them on the rack in the opening quarter.