AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final

O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 3-17 Oulart The Ballagh 0-17

O’Loughlin Gaels produced a sensational second-half performance to dethrone reigning champions Oulart The Ballagh in today’s AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final at Innovate Wexford Park.

The Kilkenny champions were out-hurled for much of the first-half as Oulart started quickly and scored five unanswered points.

But a goal by Mark Kelly after 13 minutes brought them into the game and then they really seized the initiative when they scored a fortuitous second-goal after Mark Bergin’s shot for a point was fumbled by Oulart goalkeeper Conor O’Leary into his own net.

Oulart could count themselves very unlucky to trail by two points at half-time, but they’ll have no complaints about the final result because they were out-hurled by their Kilkenny opponents in the second-half.

Kelly, Bergin, and veteran Martin Comerford were inspired in those second 30 minutes as they led the Oulart defence a merry dance.

Former Kilkenny star Comerford hit four points from play, and all of them were of the spectacular variety.

O’Loughlins never looked back after Sammy Johnston scored their third goal eight minutes into the second-half, and they scored the next five points to pull away from Oulart and set up a Leinster Final meeting with Dublin champions Cuala.

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AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final

Cuala (Dublin) 1-19 St. Mullins (Carlow) 1-7

Dublin champions Cuala had too much firepower for St. Mullins of Carlow in today’s AIB Leinster Club SHC Semi-Final at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Their full-forward line of Sean Treacy, Mark Schutte and Con O’Callaghan hit a combined total of 1-8 from play as they benefited from a steady supply of good ball.

Dublin star David Treacy also had his eye in as he hit seven points, five of them frees, and in the end that sore of finishing ability just proved too much for the St. Mullins defence to handle.

The Carlow champions started the match quite well as a 12th minute John Murphy goal helped them into an early 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

Cuala grew with the game though and hit six of the last seven points of the half to go in at the break leading by 0-9 to 1-3.

They effectively killed the game as a contest then when O’Callaghan scored his goal after 39 minutes as he expertly doubled the ball on the run to the back of the net.

The Dublin champions coasted from there to the final whistle to qualify for their second AIB Leinster SHC Final in a row.

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