Donnelly helps Thomastown bridge 78-year gap to take Kilkenny honours

In trying conditions in front of a 9,465 crowd, “The Town” bridged the gap to 1946 with a striking performance led by their county man as O’Loughlin Gaels’ protagonists struggled badly.

TOP MAN: Thomastown's John Donnelly scores a point despite Paddy Deegan of the O'Loughlin Gaels

Kilkenny SHC Final THOMASTOWN 0-18 O’LOUGHLIN GAELS 0-07

Thomastown are Kilkenny senior hurling champions for the second time in their history after a commanding dismantling of O’Loughlin Gaels in UPMC Nowlan Park this afternoon.

In trying conditions in front of a 9,465 crowd, “The Town” bridged the gap to 1946 with a striking performance led by their county man John Donnelly as O’Loughlin Gaels’ protagonists struggled badly.

On a day when scores came at a premium, last season’s All-Ireland runners-up O’Loughlin Gaels had plenty of road to make up trailing by five at the break, 0-4 to 0-9. However, they recorded just one point in the third quarter and it came in the 44th minute.

By that time, Thomastown had ballooned their lead to eight points and would have all but claimed the victory had O’Loughlin Gaels’ goalkeeper Stephen Murphy not been level to stop Colm Treacy’s goal attempt in the 41st minute.

The coup de grace threatened to come again 11 minutes later but Huw Lawlor kept out Rory Connellan’s effort. Still, the hits kept on coming for O’Loughlin Gaels as Robbie Donnelly bolstered his tally with frees and Jonjo Farrell sent over his second point of the final.

Manic would be an appropriate word to summarise the first half. Thomastown were more comfortable with the frenetic nature of the game and John Donnelly was heading the charge in the opening seconds when he picked off the first of four points in the opening half.

Farrell followed it with another and any suggestions that Thomastown would struggle in their first final since 1988 were dispelled. After Owen Wall got O’Loughlin Gaels up and running, Thomastown midfielder Peter McDonald broke through on goal in the sixth minute but his shot wasn’t as convincing as his determination to create the opening.

Nevertheless, the scores kept on coming for the challengers. Donnelly sent over his second point between setting up Rory Connellan and Stephen Donnelly getting in on the act.

Mark Bergin broke that string of four Thomastown points with a free and Conor Heary found his range in the 19th minute to indicate O’Loughlin Gaels had found their feet. Yet they were asleep for a neat one-two John Donnelly concocted for a point from a sideline and Robbie Donnelly punished a Mikey Butler foul on Colm Treacy.

Bergin sent over a point from play on the half-hour mark but Donnelly restored Thomastown’s four-point advantage, which grew to five before the interval when Robbie Donnelly sent over a free claimed by John Donnelly.

Scorers for Thomastown: R. Donnelly (0-8, 6 frees); J. Donnelly (0-4); S. Donnelly, J.J. Farrell (0-2 each); R. Connellan, P. McDonald (0-1 each).

Scorers for O’Loughlin Gaels: M. Bergin (0-3, 1 free); O. Wall (0-2); C. Heary, J. Ryan (0-1 each).

THOMASTOWN: P. Barron; P. Connellan, J. Burke (c), N. Kirwan; Z. Bay Hammond, E. Donnelly, B. Staunton; P. McDonald, J.J. Farrell; R. Donnelly, J. Donnelly, L. Connellan; S. Donnelly, C. Treacy, R. Connellan.

Subs for Thomastown: T. O’Hanrahan for C. Treacy (54); D. Prendergast for P. Connellan (58); J. Holden for S. Donnelly (60+4).

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS: S. Murphy; T. Forristal, H. Lawlor, M. Butler; D. Fogarty, P. Deegan, J. Molloy; J. Ryan, J. Nolan; F. Mackessy, M. Bergin (c), C. Kelly; S. Bolger, C. Heary, O. Wall.

Subs for O’Loughlin Gaels: P. Butler for J. Nolan (35); S. Johnston for S. Bolger (40); R. Buckley for C. Kelly (52).

Referee: D. Hughes (Barrow Rangers).