Gaels sweep past Oulart for Leinster crown

O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 0-14 Oulart-The-Ballagh (Wexford) 1-8

Oulart-the-Ballagh’s brave bid to break into Leinster senior hurling’s winners’ circle was ended by Kilkenny champions O’Loughlin Gaels this afternoon.

Gaels had late scores from top scorer Mark Bergin, substitute Seamie Cummins and Brian Dowling as they came from behind to win their second provincial title, following on from their 2003 success.

Wexford’s Rory Jacob got Oulart off to a dream start in this rescheduled final at Dr. Cullen Park.

Five minutes in, Darren Stamp’s long ball in was misjudged by the Gaels defence and Jacob snapped it up before drilling past goalkeeper Stephen Murphy for the game’s only goal.

Free-taker Bergin scored four points as Gaels closed the gap to 1-4 to 0-6 by half-time. But Oulart, who lost the 1994 and 1995 finals, should have been further ahead.

Jacob disappointed when he struck a penalty wide of the target before the break. Despite this setback, two long range points from David Redmond helped Oulart lead by four early in the second half.

Team captain Martin Comerford inspired Gaels with two points, midway through the second half, and Oulart were down to 14 men when Lar Prendergast was sent-off for a pull on Dowling.

On the hour mark, Bergin slotted his sixth point of the afternoon to tie up the sides before the Kilkenny side’s numerical advantage helped tee up match-winning scores for Cummins and Dowling.

O’Loughlin Gaels, who are managed by Michael Nolan, will go on to meet Ulster champions Loughgiel Shamrocks in the All-Ireland semi-finals on February 19.