Clara 2-12 O'Loughlin Gaels 1-13
Clara, beaten finalists last season, bounced back in style to claim their second Kilkenny league/championship senior hurling double in three years when they beat O'Loughlin Gaels in a tense final at Nowlan Park this afternoon.
A gigantic free from their own 50-metre line in the 53rd minute by Keith Hogan edged Clara 2-12 to 1-12 ahead, and within touching distance of their third title.
It was a nervy affair from there to the finish, especially after Clara had a man sent off after being shown a second yellow card, but they held out in determined fashion.
O'Loughlin's, who opened backed by the breeze, looked in trouble early on. After conceding a fourth-minute goal to Ciarán Prendergast they found themselves 1-4 to 0-1 behind after 11 minutes.
However, with midfielder Mark Bergin in splendid scoring form, they charged back to equal terms of 1-5 each just beyond the end of the quarter. Bergin, who hit half-time with eight scores to his credit, continued to be their main man up to the break, when the scores were still level, this time at 1-9 each.
There was an exchange of points early in the new half before Conor O'Shea tipped home a Clara goal from close range after a scramble near the edge of the square (2-10 to 1-10)
For a while the winners looked like charging on to victory, but O'Loughlin's hung on. Points in reply to the goal from Martin Comerford and Sammy Johnson left the minimum between the teams, but when Hogan produced a score for Clara they gained the upper hand again and they moved on, nervously and without ever gaining complete control, to victory.
Clara: Killian Phelan, Dermot Nolan, Sean O'Shea, Tom Ryan, Neal Prendergast, Shane Prendergast, David Langton (0-01), Lester Ryan (0-01), Jack Langton, Conor O'Shea (1-02), Keith Hogan (0-03), Liam Ryan (0-04), Jason Byrne, Chris Bolger (0-01), Ciarán Prendergast (1-00).
Sub: John Murphy for C Prendergast (60).
O'Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy (0-01), Anthony Forristal, Andy Kearns, Eddie Kearns, Huw Lawlor, Brian Hogan, Paddy Deegan, Mark Bergin (0-08), Shane Mahoney, David Burke (0-01), Eoghan Grant, Martin Comerford (0-01), Sammy Johnson (0-01), Danny Loughnane (1-00), Mark Kelly.
Subs: Jack Nolan (0-01) for Mahoney (ht); Alan O'Brien for Lawlor (ht); Conor Bergin for Kelly (47); Daniel O'Connor for Grant (53).
Referee: Peter Burke (Emeralds)
