Clonkill on top as Na Piarsaigh fall at final stage

Clonkill 6-12, Na Piarsaigh 0-8

Clonkill powered their way to the hurling Division 1 League title after a comprehensive victory over Na Piarsaigh last Friday evening. The home side hit three goals in each half as captain TJ Loughlin led the way with an individual tally of 2-9. Despite the best efforts of the Na Piarsaigh boys, the consistency of the Clonkill scoring made it too much of a mountain to climb.

The first point came from that young man, Loughlin, who pointed a free after a foul on Rian Gilhooley. The levelling point came in the tenth minute as Na Piarsaigh finally used the wind to their advantage, allowing Tom Nolan to score. Clonkill took control of the contest from then on and once they found their scoring rhythm it became a one-sided affair.

Thomas Hora blasted home their first goal before TJ Loughlin added his first green flag with ten minutes to go in the half. Despite their best efforts, Na Piarsaigh could not deal with the pace of the Clonkill attack as Loughlin’s free extended the lead out. Na Piarsaigh were awarded a penalty with the half nearing an end. Max Long in the Clonkill goals did everything right as he stopped Nolan’s first effort before producing a wonderful save, yet again, after a retake was awarded for encroachment on the original strike. Just as the thirty minutes were up, Clonkill hit a third goal as James Maguire added him name to the scoresheet to put the home side comfortably ahead at the break.

Loughlin began the scoring in the second half with a nice point before Nolan’s free cancelled it out at the other end. Clonkill were in no mood to let the foot off the gas and Hora’s second goal was followed by Loughlin added five more points and a goal. Tiernan Coyne also pointed in the midst of it all to leave an unassailable lead. Nolan would finish with all bar one of Na Piarsaigh’s tally as he hit three in reply. The final ten minutes did see a lot of scores, but nothing to have any bearing on the outcome of the victory, which had been decided long before. Cian Sheerin hit 1-2 for Clonkill either side of Loughlin’s last free. Alfie O’Farrell’s wonderful 65 into a tough breeze for Na Piarsaigh was the least they deserved for their efforts. The final score of the game went to the beaten side as Nolan capped a fine individual display with his seventh point. Clonkill full value for the win in the end as captain, and the individual star on the day, TJ Loughlin, accepted the shield from Barry Kelly of the Westmeath Minor Board before the Clonkill celebrations began.

Scorers – Clonkill: TJ Loughlin 2-9 (5f), T Hora 2-0, C Sheerin 1-2, J Maguire 1-0, T Coyne 0-1.

Na Piarsaigh: T Nolan 0-7 (3f, 0-1 pen), A O’Farrell 0-1 (65’).

Clonkill: Max Long; Roy Mangan, Michael Óg Dalton, Peter Whelan; Sam Doran, Shane Raleigh, Shea Dowdall; TJ Loughlin, Tom O’Connell; Cian Sheerin, Rían Gilhooley, Matthew McDonnell; Jack Maguire, Thomas Hora, Tiernan Coyne. Rest of panel: Jamie Hallinan, Fionn Merlehan, Rory Murphy, Daniel Coyne, Cillian Deane.

Na Piarsaigh: Thomas Keogh; Seán Kavanagh, Luke Byrne Kelly, Evan Brody; Michael John Gilsenan, Alfie O’Farrell, Daithí O’Rourke; Pedro Burge, Seán Murtagh; Oran Coyle, Dan Carey, Daniel Conaty; Liam Kelly, Tom Nolan, Bobby Nolan. Rest of panel: Donnacha Farrell, Culainn O’Neill, Gerard Walsh, Noah McCabe, Lee Creevy, Brién Williams, Nathan Cully.

Referee: Barry Smyth. (Castlepollard).