Thomastown 0-18 O'Loughlin Gaels 0-07
Thomastown produced a big upset as they defeated defending Kilkenny hurling champions O'Loughlin Gaels in a largely one sided senior county final at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
It's only a second ever senior championship crown for Thomastown and even more incredibly it’s a championship success just 12 months after winning an Intermediate title so the rise has been a quick one.
The final that was played in front of 9,465 spectators was played in wet and miserable conditions but with John Donnelly leading the way with four points, Thomastown dealt with it the better as they ran out surprisingly easy winners in the windup.
For O’Loughlin Gaels, it’s the end of a long road after reaching last January’s All-Ireland final against St Thomas of Galway.
In truth they never looked themselves with new Kerry recruit Fionan Mackessy who had scored 2-11 in the previous two games held scoreless with the Thomastown defence bringing a huge aggression to the contest.
All of John Donnelly’s points arrived in the opening period as helped his side build up an 0-09 to 0-04 advantage that they never looked like losing and even when he wasn’t scoring he was still influential in setting up teammates for crucial points.
As well as Donnelly, Jonjo Farrell, Peter McDonald and Rory Connellan all got in on the first half act with Mark Bergin, Conor Heary and Owen Wall just about keeping O’Loughlin Gaels in touch after being second best for much of the opening exchanges.
The Thomastown domination was even more pronounced after the break with Donnelly continuing to pull the strings while Colm Treacy and Rory Connnellan were also denied by efforts at goal.
Jamie Ryan, Owen Wall and Mark Bergin added to the O’Loughlins tally but the scant tally of three second half points told the story as they were outplayed all over the field.
It was a performance that was so unlike O’Loughlin Gaels but all of the credit must go to their opponents as they got the Kilkenny city side off their game from the get go.
Thomastown then finished off with further scores from Robbie and Stephen Donnelly as well as the experienced Jonjo Farrell as the club upset the odds to the delight of their ecstatic supporters once the final whistle arrived.
Thomastown: Paul Barron; Jay Burke, Peter Connellan, Ned Kirwan; Zach Bay Hammond, Eddie Donnelly, Brian Staunton; Peter McDonald (0-01) Jonjo Farrell (0-02); Luke Connellan, John Donnelly (0-04), Robbie Donnelly (0-08, 6fs); Stephen Donnelly (0-02), Colm Treacy, Rory Connellan (0-01). Subs: Thomas O'Hanrahan for Treacy (54), David Prendergast for P Connellan inj (60), Jack Holden for S Donnelly (64).
O'Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy; Tony Forristal, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy; Jamie Ryan (0-01), Jack Nolan; Fionan Mackessy, Mark Bergin, (0-03, 1f) Conor Kelly; Sean Bolger; Owen Wall (0-02), Conor Heary (0-01). Subs: Paddy Butler for Nolan (35), Sammy Johnston for Bolger (40), Ronan Buckley for Kelly (52).
Referee: David Hughes (Barrow Rangers)
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