More misery for Wexford hurling as Oulart self-destruct

YOU couldn’t blame them if the Clarinbridge players and mentors were keen viewers of the delayed Leinster senior hurling club final at Dr. Cullen Park last Sunday. Sure, the Galway champions have still a big hurdle to clear themselves later this month before they can even start focussing on the All-Ireland decider, but they knew that either O’Loughlin Gaels or Oulart-the Ballagh will almost certainly be present in Croke Park on March 17.

It’s not that the Clarinbridge camp would be getting ahead of itself, but barring Antrim’s Loughgiel Shamrocks pulling off a shock of epic proportions in the other semi-final against the Leinster champions, Galway’s standard bearers would be fully entitled to keep an eye out for what might be potentially coming down the tracks.

It’s the natural curiosity factor even if their Micheal Donoghue led team management know that the only game in town right now is against De La Salle of Waterford in Thurles on Saturday fortnight.

Frankly, Clarinbridge will hardly have been left quaking in their boots by what unfolded in Dr. Cullen Park. Oulart-the-Ballagh may have been favourites to capture the Leinster crown and even the All-Ireland title, but such is the lack of belief in Wexford hurling these days that it was always likely that they would blink first in a tight match.

For long periods, Liam Dunne’s charges were living up to their billing, but some self-inflicted blows contributed to yet another miserable outcome for the Slaney country.

They had got the perfect start when Roby Jacob fastened onto a long delivery before shooting low into the O’Loughlin Gaels net and when Nicky Kirwan pointed a 21st minute free, Oulart led by 1-4 to 0-3 and were shaping as the more convincing outfit. Indeed, I have never seen so many left-handed hurlers on a team as the Kilkenny champions had last Sunday and though they didn’t look anything special, it still didn’t prevent them from closing the gap significantly approaching the break.

Points from Peter Dowling, Mark Bergin (free) and Niall McEvoy left them only one behind before Jacob spurned a glorious opportunity to send the Oulart men to the dressing rooms on a high. Incredibly, not alone did the Wexford county man fail to register a score, he didn’t even hit the target as his penalty effort was driven wide. That must have been demoralising for their hard-working squad in a match which though competitive was nothing out of the ordinary.

To Oulart’s credit, they regrouped well and with midfielder David Redmond firing over three excellent long range efforts, they had regained a four point lead by the 40th minute and were back in the driving seat. It was hard to see O’Loughlin Gaels pulling the game out of the fire at this stage, but typical of a Kilkenny team they gradually worked their way back into the contest with the move of a previously subdued Martin Comerford out the field helping to turn things around although Oulart also began shooting themselves in the foot.

Apart from errant free-taking, the dismissal of wing back Lar Prendergast on a straight card meant they were short-staffed when the Kilkenny men upped the ante in the final quarter. Over the last 20 minutes Oulart could only manage a solitary score, Kirwan’s 54th minute free, as O’Loughlin’s greater physicality and numerical advantage began to turn the game on its head. They finished with a flurry of points, including two from substitute Seamie Cummins, to emerge comfortable 0-14 to 1-8 winners in the end.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.