Owen Wall's brace sends O'Loughlin Gaels into Kilkenny SHC Final
WALL BALL: Owen Wall of O'Loughlin Gaels celebrates after scoring his side's third and winning goal. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
A stoppage time Owen Wall goal finally ended Bennettsbridge's stern resistance as O'Loughlin Gaels booked their place in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship Final for the second time in three years.
The opening last four clash was tightly fought all the way through but a pair of Wall goals that arrived at the start and the end of the game proved crucial as O'Loughlin's emerged three point winners.
For O'Loughlin's boss and former Kilkenny star Brian Hogan, it was just relief that they did enough to book their place in the decider in two weeks time.
"Semi-finals are just about winning and it doesn't really matter how you do it and we got over the line and we are delighted," said Hogan.
"As the old saying goes, goals win matches and that was certainly the case for us. We got a great start and got a goal after a minute or so but credit to Bennettsbridge as they came back into it and it was nip and tuck all the way.
"Those two goals in the second half just gave us the breathing room to get over the line."
Bennettsbridge lined up without the injured Ciaran Brennan and they also lost Kevin Blanchfield within 20 minutes of the start and while the influential midfielder returned in the second period, his absence was felt.
The 'Bridge were chasing for much of the contest and despite Kilkenny star David Blanchfield hitting the first of three points for his side within seconds of the throw-in, O'Loughlin's soon battled back with an expertly taken Owen Wall goal.
Points from Conor Heary and David Fogarty extended the city side's advantage before five Bennetsbridge points on the trot left the 2018 finalists 0-8 to 1-2 in front.
Nicky Cleere knocked over a number of points from frees during that spell but crucially, the Bridge also squandered two big goal chances with Jason Cleere and Sean Morrissey both going close.
Fresh from that wake up call Hogan's side dominated the rest of the half with Paddy Deegan, Mark Bergin and Conor Heary adding further scores as they led 1-8 to 0-10 at the break.
The second half then went point for point until Nicky Cleere edged the Bridge in front in the 45th minute but they were soon rocked when Conor Kelly scored a brilliant individual goal with six minutes left on the clock.
Four points seperated the teams at that stage but that didn't put off Bennettsbridge as successive scores from Nicky Cleere, Daniel Murphy and Hugh O'Neill levelled up matters once again.
Liam Blanchfield, who was well tied up by Huw Lawlor, also had a big goal chance but he was denied by Lawlor and goalkeeper Stephen Murphy on the double.
That opportunity came back to bite them as a point from Conor Kelly and a goal from Wall wrapping up the O'Loughlin's win late on.
M Bergin (0-8, 4f), O Wall (2-0), C Kelly (1-1), D Fogarty and C Heary (0-2 each), P Deegan, J Molloy and P Butler (0-1 each).
N Cleere (0-11, 9f and 2 '65's), D Blanchfield (0-3), H O'Neill (0-2), J Cleere, S Morrissey, B Hughes, J Hughes, D Murphy and J Campion (0-1 each).
S Murphy; T Forristal, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Fogarty, P Deegan, J Molloy; J Nolan, C Loy; M Bergin, E O'Shea, C Heary; O Wall, P Butler, S Bolger.
R Buckley for Nolan (51), C Kelly for Butler (52), J Ryan for Loy (59).
E Cleere; T Kelly, E Morrissey, D Murphy; C Murphy, B Hughes, J Hughes; H O'Neill, K Blanchfield; N Cleere, D Blanchfield, W Murphy; J Cleere, L Blanchfield, S Morrissey.
S Byrne for K Blanchfield (19), J Campion for W Murphy (H-T), K Blanchfield for J Cleere (54).
Conor Everard (Graigue Ballycallan).
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