Loughiel 4-13 Coolderry 0-17:Loughgiel Shamrocks have taken the AIB All-Ireland club hurling title to Ulster for only the second time and the first since the club's previous victory 29 years ago.
The foundations of an outstanding success were laid in a first-half force de frappe from man of the match Liam Watson, who scored 3-7 on the day and 3-3 before half-time, to leave the Antrim champions nine points clear at the interval.
Their shell-shocked opponents couldn’t get in for a goal despite three early half-opportunities for their prolific corner forward Eoin Ryan but either the final ball wasn’t delivered or the chances went otherwise a begging.
Coolderry launched a spirited counter in the third quarter but their best efforts were thwarted by some excellent defensive work, which squeezed nearly all of the attacking movement and forced the Offaly champions to take points when they found the way to goal blocked.
Loughgiel struck for goal as early as the sixth minute when a low ball into Shay Casey allowed the corner forward slip the defence and kick the ball beyond Stephen Corcoran for a 1-1 to 0-2, a lead they would relinquish for a couple of minutes over the remainder of the match.
Watson started relatively slowly but his first score from play, a point in the 17th minute opened the floodgates. A minute later he followed up when Corcoran saved from Casey to ram in the second goal and added numbers three and four in the dying minutes of the half.
The third was fitting retribution for a cynical foul perpetrated on him by Trevor Corcoran, who received a yellow card. Watson slammed the free past defenders and goalkeeper. The original ball delivered to the full forward had been from Eddie McCloskey and he also provided the opportunity for his full forward to scramble his hat-trick goal into the net.
Although Cathal Parlon tried to lead the resistance and Damien Murray was reliable from frees, Coolderry couldn’t make significant inroads and the margin never dipped below five points.
Loughgiel absorbed their best efforts and countered fluently for a comfortable and historic victory.
LOUGHGIEL:D Quinn; P Gillan, N McGarry, R McCloskey; J Campbell, M Scullion, J Campbell; B McAuley (0-1), M McFadden; J Scullion (0-1), D Laverty, E McCloskey (0-1); B McCarry (0-3), L Watson (3-7, 1-5 frees), S Casey (1-0). Subs: S Dobbin for McFadden (half-time), T McCloskey for Dobbin (57 mins), D McCloskey for Casey (61 mins).
COOLDERRY:S Corcoran; B Kelly, T Corcoran, A Corcoran; B O'Meara, J Brady, D King; K Brady (0-1), K Teehan; B Carroll (0-3),B Teehan, M Corcoran; E Ryan (0-2), C Parlon (0-2), D Murray (0-8, frees).
Subs: K Connolly (0-1)for T Corcoran (half-time), M Bergin for K Teehan (51 mins), B Larkin for Kelly (57 mins).
