Loughlin helps Clonkill to Division 1 Hurling honours

Clonkill 6-18, Delvin 5-3

A barely-believable 4-18 from Clonkill star, Ben Loughlin, helped his side to victory and with it the U14 Division 1 Hurling League title for 2025 after a comprehensive victory over a determined and strong Delvin side in Loughegar last Wednesday evening. Both sides utilised the fine weather on show to give the crowd plenty to cheer about as a game with 32 scores and plenty of hard-hits was settled, ultimately, by the magic of Ben Loughlin.

A cracking opening goal after only a minute from Loughlin set the tone for the game as the half-forward too the chance to burst directly towards goal at every attempt to score or tee up someone else in green and gold. Loughlin (1-1) and Páidí Slevin (goal) both hit the target before Cathal Clune scored the first goal for Delvin. The two number 11’s, Loughlin and Ryan Denning, exchanged frees before the Clonkill star struck two points from play. Delvin, not to be outdone, made the most of Patrick Cassidy’s clearance as Denning took the sliotar and drove it to the net just before Shane Darby pointed. Another 1-1 from Clonkill (Loughlin’s point and a fine goal from Cian Sheerin meant that at the break it was CLonkill who were ahead, 5-7 to 2-2.

Ben Loughlin was having one of those games (he has had many incredible ones already) and he not only got Clonkill off the mark in the second-half with a free, but would go on to register 1-11 in the half – the entirety of Clonkill’s score! James Nea picked out the top-scorer to strike over before four frees and one more from play brought the silverware into the vision of Clonkill as they lead 5-13 to 2-2. Amazingly, Delvin turned up the heat and found three goals in rapid succession, all from Denning.

The strikes varied from a tricky bouncing ball off the turf going to the net, to a sublime effort which gave Max Long in the Clonkill goal no chance. Suddenly, the goals were even but Clonkill still stayed ahead, 5-14 to 5-3. The final minutes belonged to Loughlin as he notched 1-4 to add to his tally. The last point of the day was a fitting way to end as Loughlin took the sliotar in his own half before running a long distance and striking over for a much-deserved victory.

Coiste na nÓg Chairperson, Paddy Wallace, presented the shield to captains Ben Loughlin and James Nea.

Scorers – Clonkill: B Loughlin 4-18 (10f), P Slevin, C Sheerin 1-0 each.

Delvin: R Denning 4-2 (1f), C Clune 1-0, S Darby 0-1.

Clonkill: Max Long; Aidan Quinlan, Michael Long, Dara Moran; TJ Loughlin, James Nea, Harry Brennan; Oisín Keena, Páidí Slevin; Cónal Murphy, Ben Loughlin, Padraic Craig; Shea Dowdall, Conor Raleigh, Cian Sheerin. Panel: Dylan Crowley, Rian Gilhooley, Conor Quinlan, Thomas Hora, Theo Meisonnave, Peter Whelan, Shane Raleigh, Daniel Morgan, Tom O’Connell, Sam Doran.

Delvin: Rhys Williams; Niall McEnroe, Ben Denning, Michael Forde; Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Michael Fitzgerald, Trevor Nyagano; James Fox, Rian Williams; David Fenlon, Ryan Denning, Lorcan Massey; Conor McEvoy, Cathal Clune, Shane Darby. Panel: Cian Carroll, Fiach McKeogh, Tadgh Murtagh, Ryan Coughlan, Seán Clune, Patrick Cassidy, Tiernan Greville, Robbie Neville, Cathal Fox, Darragh Harte, Joseph Cassidy, Tadgh Poynton, Conall Goss, Aaron Vaughan, Stan Okwieka, Dara Fallon, James Brennan, Vinny Murray.

Referee: Robert Dillon (Fr Dalton’s).