Andy comerford shed a complex yesterday that had plagued him and his team-mates when going out to train and play alongside DJ and Charlie on the Kilkenny county side.
"I had longed for this moment," the 28-years old bricklayer said after lifting the Kilkenny hurling championship trophy. He had just led O'Loughlin Gaels to a first senior title with a surprise win over holders Graigue-Ballycallan.
"Now that we have finally won a county medal there will be no need for us to feel in any way inferior to our mates on the county side," he added.
Comerford's two brothers, Martin - the man-of-the-match - and Jimmy, ran rings around the holders' defence.
The final whistle had only sounded when the statisticians were hard at work trying to find a previous occasion when defending champions failed to score from play in a final.
The O'Loughlin-Gaels club are comparative newcomers to senior ranks and defeat by Ballycallan in last year's final gave them the added spur to prove themselves, according to their coach, former Offaly star Aidan Fogarty. Their home ground is only a hundred yards down the road from Nowlan Park.
The 8,000-strong crowd were treated to a mixed bag of hurling quality and a few flare-ups resulting in bookings during the early stages of the second half. Referee John Guinan and his linesmen and umpires had a busy time during that period when tempers frayed. Fortunately no one was seriously injured nor sent off.
There was no denying the quality of the O'Loughlin's hurling throughout that second half. Depending on Adrian Ronan to keep them in the game with scores from the placed ball suddenly became a non-runner for Ballycallan.
O'Loughlin's superior play in all sectors began to reap its just rewards and Nigel Skehan turned in a display of impeccable accuracy that could easily have earned him the man-of-the-match award.
Skehan had chalked up most of his match-winning tally when he was credited with the scrambled goal that sealed victory midway through the second half. The adroit Skehan finished up with an impressive tally of 1-9.
The firm control by the O'Loughlin's defence in containing and repulsing anything that the holders threw at them looked ominous for Ballycallan's scoring potential. Ballycallan's one-man attack, consisting of the veteran Ronan was not sufficient.
The former Kilkenny star hit 1-5 all from frees and the sixth point was provided, also off a free, by wing back Damian Cleere. In the third quarter with only two points between the teams Ronan took a penalty, but his effort was blocked and cleared.
A good example of O'Loughlin's ability to stretch the holders' cover came later still when Paul Dermody had no option but to pull down Skehan, who by then could enjoy the luxury of taking his point from the spot.
Andy Comerford and his midfield partner Alan Geoghegan asserted huge pressure on the holders' defence, notably when joined by Jimmy Comerford, who played well in the role of third midfielder.
O'Loughlin's grew in confidence as they widened a three-point advantage in the 36th minute to nine by the 50th minute.
Graigue-Ballycallan's biggest problem was that key players such as Denis Byrne and Eddie Brennan did not perform. Eddie O'Dwyer tried hard to get his team on track from midfield. The late introduction of James Young was never allowed to make any appreciable difference.
O'LOUGHLIN GAELS: P Cleere; B Power, M Holohan, B Murphy; J Holohan, B Hogan, S Dowling; A Comerford (0-1), A Geoghegan (0-2, one free); N Skehan (1-9, six points frees), C Furlong, B Kelly (0-1); J Comerford (0-2), M Comerford (0-1), B Dowling (0-1).
GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN: P Dermody; J Butler, P O'Dwyer, J Ryall; D Cleere (0-1, free), T Comerford, A Hoyne; D Hoyne, E O'Dwyer; D Byrne, J Hoyne, E Brennan; A Ronan (1-5, all frees), M Hoyne, T Dermody. Subs: J Young for T Dermody (41 mins); G Cleere for T Comerford (44 mins).
Ref: J Guinan (Lisdowney)
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