OULART-THE-BALLAGH will face Westmeath’s Clonkill in the semi-finals of the AIB Leinster senior hurling club championship after both teams safely advanced this afternoon.
Oulart, who have yet to win the provincial crown despite six final appearances, were made to work for their victory by Clough-Ballacolla but did enough to record a 3-08 to 0-13 win.
The Wexford club raced into a commanding lead thanks to goals from Murtha Doyle, Rory Jacob and David Redmond but were given a real scare by Clough-Ballacolla’s late revival.
Clough-Ballacolla, the Laois champions, dominated proceedings from there on but were unable to cut the deficit as they failed to convert their chances.
Clonkill, meanwhile, had little trouble in dispatching St Mullins of Carlow with an emphatic 4-9 to 0-9 victory at Netwatch Cullen Park.
The Westmeath hurling champions bossed the tie with Brendan Murtagh and full-forward Niall Dowdall both scoring a brace.
St Mullins did fashion an encouraging start but the tide turned when the referee awarded an early penalty to Clonkill for a foul on Anthony Price.
Murtagh clinically converted and Clonkill never looked back to set-up a semi-final showdown with Oulart in Mullingar on 15 November.
