O'Loughlin Gaels senior team qualified for the Alyward Cup final after beating Fenians of Johnstown last Tuesday evening in Johnstown.
On a very chilly summers evening the city team were to prevail over a gallant Fenians effort. O'Loughlin’s got off to great start with a goal and a point, from close in frees, from ace attacker Mark Bergin.
Young midfielder Andy Cantwell got a good score from midfield, after which Fenians replied with a point from Kevin Reade from play. Reade tacked on a point from a free soon after. From the puckout O'loughlin's midfield gathered the ball and sent it through to their lively corner forward Conor Bergin, who rattled the onion bag. O'Loughlin’s took over for the remainder of the first half aided by a very strong breeze.
A good point for Fenians by David Dermody was the Johnstown men's only score from play in the first half. They added four frees, two from Reade and two from Kevin Power before the break.
O’loughlin’s used the wind advantage to the optimum, sending long balls down to their hardworking forwards. Even centre back Alan O’Brien saw one of his efforts sail over the bar. They finished the first half with a tally of 2-10 and were leading by nine points. Mark Bergin scored five more points, three from play. Danny Loughnane and Conor Bergin were the other point scorers.
Fenians started the second half brightly aided by the strong breeze, but they failed to register early scores. O’Loughlin’s on the other hand increased their lead through minor scores from Peter Dowling and a free from Mark Bergin.
Then the death knell for the Johnstown men. The ball fell to the in form Conor Bergin on the 21 yard line. Bergin rounded his marker and crashed the ball to the net. O'Loughlin’s scored two more points through Mark Bergin and Seamus Cummins and were not to score for the next ten minutes as the Fenians fightback started.
A free from centre back John Henderson was quickly followed by a good point from Eoin Shiel. Kevin Reade and Henderson again added two more frees. Points from C Ryan and C Tobin kept the northerners creeping ever so close. Henderson again added a long range free.
At this stage cousins Conor and Mark Bergin steadied the ship for the city boys with two points. The Fenians were to dominate the final moments adding three points, two through Kevin Power and one from Shiel. Maurice Nolan finished the scoring for O'loughlin Gaels with a good point from play.
Final score O'loughlin Gaels 3-18, Fenians 0-19.
