Clonkill prove no obstacle to Oulart The Ballagh

Oulart The Ballagh 0-16 Clonkill 0-8

Wexford champions Oulart The Ballagh qualified for another Leinster final in rough winter conditions in Mullingar on Sunday afternoon when they emerged from the Westmeath venue with a comfortable win against Clonkill.

Clonkill started brightly and a fine free against the wind by Brendan Murtagh teed up Niall Dowdall who opened the scoring in the fourth minute. The home side were guilty of giving away possession cheaply throughout the hour and one such instance allowed the visitors to equalise in the seventh minute via impressive corner forward Des Mythen.

Two minutes later the same player gave them a lead they never looked likely to relinquish. A range of well taken points ensued while, at the other end, Clonkill seldom posed a threat to the Oulart The Ballagh defence.

Deep into added-time, a great save by Gary Healy from Garret Sinnott resulted in a '65' which was converted by Nicky Kirwan with the last puck of the half, leaving the Wexford men ahead by 0-11 to 0-3 at the interval.

Oulart The Ballagh increased their advantage courtesy of points by Mythen and Tommy Storey within seven minutes of the resumption. However, four unanswered points by the end of the third quarter gave Clonkill hope. The first three came from the stick of Anthony Price, two of them from frees, before Niall Dowdall made it 0-13 to 0-7.

That was as close as Clonkill came. Indeed, Healy was called on to produce more outstanding goalkeeping as Oulart The Ballagh eased to the final. Their holy grail of a provincial crown is now just one hour away, with Dublin champions Cuala standing in their way.

Oulart-The Ballagh: C O'Leary; E Moore, K Rossiter, B Kehoe; P Roche (0-1, free), S Murphy, K Sheridan; R Jacob (0-2), D Redmond (0-2); T Storey (0-1), T Dunne, P Murphy; D Mythen (0-5), G Sinnott (0-1), N Kirwan (0-4, one free, one '65'). Subs: D Morton for Moore (39 mins), P Sutton for P Murphy (42 mins), M Doyle for Kirwan (46 mins), M Jacob for Storey (48 mins), L Prendergast for Dunne (58 mins).

Clonkill: G Healy; K Reilly, C Scally, S Power; A McGrath, B Murtagh (0-1, free), L Folan; P Dowdall, E Price; M Heffernan (0-2), Adam Price, C Crentsil; Anthony Price (0-3, two frees), N Dowdall (0-2), A Dowdall. Subs: D Egerton for Crentsil (26 mins), N Mitchell for P Dowdall (45 mins), A Mitchell for Adam Price (47 mins)

Ref: P Murphy (Carlow).